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The HISTORY 

of the 

City of Fredericksburg 
Virginia 



Prepared and printed by authority of the 

Olommiitt Olflitnrtl tiyprpnf, 

under the direction of its Committee on 
Publication, consisting of the following 
Councilmen : H. B. LANE, WM. E. 
BRADLEY and S. W. SOMERVILLE 



S. J. QUINN, Historian 



1908 

The Hermitage Press, Inc. 

Richmond, Va. 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cocles Received 

DEC 24 1908 

— . JCopyriKHt tntry 
CLASS Ol XXc, No, 



7- 



M 






Copyright, 1908, 

On all original matter herein, 

By 

H. B. Lane, Chairman of History Committee, 

for the City of Fredericksburg, Va. 



i^litratinn 



TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO BRAVED THE DANGERS OF LAND AND 
WATER IN 1608, AND DISCOVERED THE SPOT UPON WHICH THE CITY OF 
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, NOW STANDS, AND TO THOSE WHO 
WROUGHT SO HEROICALLY AND SUCCESSFULLY IN THE SET- 
TLEMENT AND PROSPERITY OF THE SAID CITY TO THE 
PRESENT TIME, 1908, A PERIOD OF THREE HUN- 
DRED YEARS, THESE PAGES ARE RESPECTFUL- 
LY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY 
THE PRESENT COMMON COUNCIL OF 
THE CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG 




PREFACE 



To Messrs. H. B. Lane, Wm. E. Bradley and Prof. 8. W. Somer- 
ville, Committee on History of the Common Council: 

Gentlemen — ^When I was requested by your predecessors to 
write a history of Fredericksburg, I regarded it as quite an honor, 
and in the discharge of the duty I have found great pleasure. 
Not that the material needed was ready at hand and the task was 
easy, but because I found so many of the best of our citizens eager 
to assist in getting the material together, that had been laid away 
for ages, and placing it at my disposal. Moreover, their kind 
words very much encouraged me, and I wish I could here record 
their names, but as it might not be proper, I take much pleasure 
in extending to them my grateful thanks. 

The records concerning the town reach back only to the close 
of the Eevolutionary war. If Major Lawrence Smith, who con- 
structed the fort and governed the settlers by military law or "as a 
county court might do," ever kept any records of his acts, we have 
been unable to find them, and the same is true of the Trustees who 
had the managment of the town from the time it was "laid out by 
law," until it was chartered by the Legislature of Virginia. There- 
fore, much that is found in the following pages in reference to 
"the olden time," came from families who had preserved it in 
various forms for many generations. 

In presenting this history it is not claimed that all is said about 
Fredericksburg that could have been said or that incidents have not 
been related as others have heard them, but it is believed that all 
important events have been referred to and incidents given as they 
have been related to us by those well informed and who were re- 
garded as authority on such matters. Nor is there any claim made 
for originality. The book is intended to be a history of Fredericks- 
burg, and "history is a narration of facts and events which may 
be given chronologically or topically," therefore we have written in 
the main what others have spoken and have disregarded chronology 

[5] 



6 Preface 

and even the arrangement of subjects. But it is believed that the 
arrangement herein is probably best adapted to impress the reader 
with the splendid history of the town and the magnificent achieve- 
ments of her sons and those men of fame who sprang from her 
immediate vicinity. 

It is believed this book will be welcomed by all citizens and their 
friends, whether those friends be former residents or descendants 
of such, or those veteran soldiers on either side of the late Civil 
Contest who performed such gallant deeds upon our hills and with- 
in our valleys. JSTo soldier of either army — the Army of the Poto- 
mac or the Army of Northern Virginia — can ever forget Fred- 
ericksburg. It was in the four great battles fought in and around 
Fredericksburg that he won imperishable glory as an American 
soldier, that name which to-day is written on the highest pinnacle 
of military fame. 

No living citizen, or the descendant of such noble sires, whereso- 
ever dispersed, can ever forget the town or lineage from which he 
sprang. None such can ever fail to appreciate those citizens, who, 
in the most trying times, and under the most adverse circumstances, 
were conspicuous for their love and loyalty, suffering and sacrifice, 
daring and doing for home and country. 

Let their deeds and sacrifices be preserved for imitation of future 
generations, which is one of the objects of this book. 
Very respectfully, 

S. J. QUINN. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Facing Page 

Baptist Cliurcli 132 

Butterfield Monument 288 

Capt. S. J. Quinn Frontispiece 

Catholic Church 272 

Chancellorsville Tavern 82 

Charity School 232 

Christian Church 240 

Church of God 304 

City Hall 192 

Com. M. F. Maury 320 

Confederate Cemetery 122 

Confederate Monument 264 

Court House 22 

Eagle Hotel 182 

Entrance to Confederate Cemetery 222 

Entrance to National Cemetery 256 

Exchange Hotel 1T2 

Federal Hill 32 

Fire Department 232 

First Mayor's Residence 182 

Forsythe's Birthplace 102 

Fredericksburg College 172 

Fredericksburg from Ma rye's Heights 12 

Fredericksburg from Stafford Heights 12 

Free Bridge f 22 

Free Lance — Star Office 248 

Hon. Montgomery Slaughter '. T2 

Jackson Monument 202 

Kenmore 212 

Marye Mansion 328 

Mary Washington House 32 

Mary Washington Monument 52 



List of Illustrations . 

Facing Page 

Masonic Lodge 222 

Meditation Rock 152 

Mercer Monument 92 

Methodist Chnrch 162 

M. W. M. Lodge 142 

Old Planters' Hotel 296 

Opera House 296 

Postoffice 280 

Power Dam 152 

Presbyterian Church 162 

Presbyterian JNIemorial Chapel 62 

Public School 288 

Remarkable Tombstone 264 

R., F. & P. R. R. Bridge 312 

Rising Sun Tavern 52 

Section Stone Wall 112 

Sentry Box 102 

Shiloii Church, N. S 304 

Shlloh Church, O. S 272 

Stevens House 192 

St. George's Church 62 

Stone House 92 

Sunken Road 82 

Superintendent's Lodge 256 

Trinity Church .... ! 240 

Trustees' Office 112 

Union House 212 

View on Princess Anne St 42 

Wallace Library 142 

Water Power Office 328 

Wm. Paul's Gravestone 280 



CONTENTS 



Chapter I 

Captain John Smith Explores the Eappahannock Eiver — The 
Flight of Pocahontas — Major Lawrence Smith's Fort — 
Governor Spotswood^s Miners at Germanna, - - 11 

Chapter II 

The Knights of the Golden Horse Shoe — Governor Spots- 
wood's Expedition over the Blue Eidge Mountains, - 27 

Chapter III 

Fredericksburg Incorporated by the House of Burgesses — Col. 
Byrd "Walks about Town — A Church Building Erected — 
Eev. Patrick Henry Eector — Augustine Washington a 
Town Trustee — Stock Fairs Inaugurated — Limits of the 

Town Extended, - - - - - - - - 37 

I' 

Chapter IV 

Encouraging Home Industries — Further Extension of the 
Town — Tobacco Inspectors Appointed — Modes of Punish- 
ing Criminals — Prosperity — Militar}'- Ardor — ^Under the 
United States Government — A New Order of Things, - 46 

Chapter V 

Lease of the Market-House Lots — The First Serious Fire — 
Fredericksburg an Important Center — An Act Concern- 
ing Elections — Half of the Town Destroyed by Fire — 
Fredericksburg an Important Postal Point — How the 
Mails were Carried — A Congressional Investigation — 
Amendatory Acts of 1821— The Great Fire of 1822— The 
Trade of the Town — Contagious Diseases — The Town in 
1841— Acts of Extension, 1851, 1852, 1858, 1861, - 57 

[7] 



8 Contents 

Chapter VI 
The War Clouds Gather — Fredericksburg in the Southern 
Confederacy — Troops Eaised and Equipped — Town Sur- 
rendered to Federal Authorities. — Citizens Arrested and 
Held as Hostages — Thrilling Evacuating Scenes — Citi- 
zens Flee from their Homes — Bombardment of the Town, 71 

Chapter VII 

The Great Battl^-The Town Sacked by Soldiers— The Fed- 
erals Eecross the Eiver — A Great Eevival of Eeligion — 
The Battle of Chancellorsville — Gen. Sedgewick Captures 
the Town — The Wilderness Campaign — Many Noncom- 
batant Citizens Arrested and Imprisoned — A Statement 
by the Council — The Citizens and Federal Soldiers Ee- 
leased, ----------90 

Chapter VIII 

The Armies Transferred to Eichmond and Petersburg — Gen. 
Lee Surrenders his Army — Citizens Eeturn Home — Action 
of the City Council — Fredericksburg Again Under the Old 
Flag — The Assassination of President Lincoln Denounc- 
ed — Eeconstruction Commenced — An Election Set Aside 
by the Military — All Civil Offices Set Aside and Strang- 
ers Appointed — The Financial Condition of the Town — 
The Town Again in the Hands of its Citizens — Splendid 
Financial Showing, - - - - - - -107 

Chapter IX 

The Courts of Fredericksburg — The Freedman's Bureau — 
Court Orders and Incidents — First Night Watch Ap- 
pointed — Ministers Qualify to Perform Marriage Cere- 
mony — First Notary Public — Fixing the Value of Bank 
Notes — Prison Bounds for Debtors — Church Buildings, 123 

Chapter X 
Public Buildings — Court House — The Jail— Town Hall — Fire 
Department — School Buildings — Wallace Library — Nor- 
mal School — Government Building, - - - - 136 



Contents 9 

Chaptek XI 

Ancient and Historical Buildings — Mary Washington Monu- 
ment — General Mercer's Statute — Mary Washington's 
Will, - - - - 148 

Chapter XII 

Hotels of the Town, old and new — Agricultural Fairs and Toll 
Bridges — Care of the Dependent Poor — City Water Works 
— City Gas Works — Electric Light — Telephone Company 
— Fire Department, - - - - - - -164 

Chapter XIII 

Volunteer Militia — The Confederate Cemetery — The National 
• Cemetery — The Confederate Veterans — The Sons of Con- 
federate Veterans — The Schools, Private and Public, - 183 

Chapter XIV 
The Churches of Fredericksburg, ------ 202 

Chapter XV 

Charitable and Benevolent Societies — Mary Washing-ton Hos- 
pital — Newspapers and Periodicals — Political Excitement 
. — Strong Eesolutions Against the Administration — An 
Address Approving the President's Foreign Policy — The 
Names of Those who Signed the Address, - - - 217 

Chapter XVI 

Distinguished Men Buried in Fredericksburg — A Eemarkable 
Grave Stone — Three Heroic Fredericksburgers, Wellford, 
Herndon, Willis — The Old Liberty Bell Passes Through 
Town — Great Demonstration in its Honor — What a 
Chinaman Thought of it, - - - - - - 235 

Chapter XVII 

Visits of Heroes — Gala Days — The Army of the Society of the 

Potomac Enters the Town, 251 



10 Contents ■ 

Chaptek XVIII 

The Society of the Army of the Potomac Continued — Welcome 

Address — Laying a Corner Stone, 363 

Chapter XIX 
Doctor Walker's Expedition — Bacon's Kebellion, so-called — 
The Fredericksburg Declaration — The Great Orator — 
Eesolutions of Separation — The Virginia Bill of Eights, 280 

Chapter XX 
Declaration of Separation — The Declaration of Independence 
— Washington Commander-in-Chief of the Armies — John 
Paul Jones Eaises the First Flag — First to Throw the 
Stars and Stripes to the Breeze — Fredericksburg Fur- • 
nishes the Head of the Arm.y and Navy — The Constitu- 
tion of the United States, - - - - '- -292 

Chapter XXI 

The First Proclamation for Public Thanksgiving — Pennsyl- 
vania Whiskey Eebellion — John Marshall and the Su- 
preme Court — Eeligious Liberty — The Monroe Doctrine — 
Seven Presidents — Clarke Saves the Great Northwest — 
The Vast Western Territory Explored — The Louisiana 
Purchase — The Florida Purchase — Texas Acquired — The 
War with Mexico and its Eich Eesults — The Oceans 
Sounded, Measured and Mapped — The Ladies' Memorial 
Association — The Mary Washington Monument — Gen- 
earl Mercer's Statue, - -306 

Chapter XXII 
Fredericksburg at Present — The Health of the City— its Fin- 
ancial Solidity — Its Commercial Prosperity — Its Lines of 
Transportation — Its Water Power — Its Official Calendar 
— List of Mayors, -------- 322 

Official Calendar— September 1, 1908 333 

Mayors of Fredericksburg in Their Chronological Order - - 336 



HISTORY 



City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, 

FROM ITS 

Settlement to the Present Time 



CHAPTEE I 

Capt. JoJm Smith Explores the Rappahannoch River — The Flight 
of Pocahontas — Maj. Smith's Fort — Gov. Spotswood's Miners 
at Germanna. 

In what year the white man first set liis foot upon tlie present 
site of Fredericksburg is not certainly known. The mind of man, 
of the present generation, does not run back to that time, and if the 
first white visitor to the place thought it of sufficient importance 
to make a note of it that note was not preserved; or, if it was, it 
is unknown to the present inhabitants of the town, unless that visi- 
tor was Captain John Smith. 

It is stated that_after John Smith was captured by the Indians, 
while on his trip exploring the Chickahominy, his captors marched 
him through the country, amid great rejoicing, visiting the Indian 
towns on the Pamunkey, Mattapony, Piankitank, Eappahannock 
and Potomac rivers, but it is not stated that he was taken as high 
up the Eappahannock as the falls. This trip through the country, 
however, while it was attended with hideous yells, cheers and all 
sorts of mournful noises by the excited throng, gave John Smith 
some idea of the rich and fertile valleys, the beautiful rivers that 
flowed from the mountains, and a desire to explore them if he 
should be fortunate enough to get back to the English settlement 
alive. 

[11 ] 



12 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

For soon after his release, in writing of the discoveries, having 
already explored the Chesapeake bay, he says :* "There is but one 
entrance by sea into this country, and that is at the mouth of a 
very goodly bay, the wideness whereof is near eighteen or twenty 
miles. The cape on the south is called Cape Henry, in honor of 
our most noble Prince. The show of the land there is a white hilly 
sand like unto the Downes, and along the shores great plenty of 
pines and firs. The north cape is called Cape Charles, in honor of 
the worthy Duke of York. 

"Within is a country that may have the prerogative over the most 
pleasant places of Europe, Asia, Africa or America and for large 
and pleasant navigable rivers, heaven and earth never agreed better 
to frame a place for man's habitation, being of our constitutions, 
were it fully manured and inhabited by industrious people. Here 
are mountains, hills, plains, valleys, rivers and brooks, all running 
most pleasantly to a fair bay, compassed, but for the mouth, with 
fruitful and delightsome land. In the bay and rivers are many 
isles, both great and small, some woody, some plain, most of them 
low and not inhabited. This bay lies north and south, in which 
the water flows near two hundred miles and has. a channel for one 
hundred and forty miles of depth betwixt seven and fifteen fathoms, 
holding in breadth, for the most part, ten or fifteen miles. From the 
head of the bay at the north, the land is mountainous, and so in a 
manner from thence by a southwest line. So that the more south- 
ward, the further off from the bay are those mountains, from which 
fall certain brooks, which after come to five principal navigable 
rivers. These run from the northwest into the southeast, and so 
into the west side of the bay, where the fall of ever}'- river is within 
twenty or fifteen miles one of another." 

Early in the year of 1608, his life having been saved by Poca- 
hontas, John Smith made a number of trips, exploring the rivers 
of this section of Virginia, entered the mouth of the Eappa- 
hannock and, but for an accident that befell him, might have con- 
tinued his trip to the falls. 

They found fish in abundance in all the streams and, "near the 



♦ Description of Virginia by Smith, his spelling modernized. 



r 



■^^- ■ ^-m.-. 



-1^^ FROM MARYE'S HEIGHTS. 
GROUND OVER WHICH 
FEDERAL TROOPS ADVANCED 



View of Fredericksburg from Marye's Mansion, showing ground charged over 
by Federals in battle 1862. Confederate line at fence. 
(See page 91) 




View of Fredericksburg from Stafford Heights, where Federal guns 
were located in 1862, showing the old Scott bridge. 
(See page 171) 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 13 

mouth of the Eappahannock, Smith plunged his sword into a 
singular fish like a 'thornback/ with a long tail and from it a 
poisoned sting. In taking it off it drove the sting into his wrist, 
producing a torturing pain, and in a few hours the whole hand, 
arm and shoulder had swollen so fearfully that death seemed 
inevitable. He pointed out a place for his grave, and his men, with 
heavy hearts, prepared it. But Dr. Eussell applied the probe and 
used an oil with such success that Smith was soon well and ate a 
part of the same fish for supper."* 

Some writers contend that it was while on this trip that Smith 
came up the Eappahannock to the falls and had a battle with the 
Indians, but this is a mistake. This trip was commenced on the 
20th of June, 1608, and it was directly after entering the mouth of 
the river that he saw so many fish in the clear stream and caught 
one on the point of his sword; for Eussell, the physician, who ac- 
companied him, says after Smith was thought to have been fatally 
poisoned, "having neither surgeon or surgery, but that preservative 
oil, we presently set sail for Jamestown. Passing the mouth of the 
Piankatank and Pamunkey rivers, the next day we safely arrived 
at Kecaughtan."f If Smith had been very far up the Eappa- 
hannock he could not have passed the mouth of these two rivers the 
next day. 

The voyage that Smith made, during which he explored the 
Eappahannock river to the falls, was commenced on the 24th of 
July, more than a month after he entered the mouth of the river 
and was stung by the fish which turned him back. As this trip up 
the river is of great interest, being the first made by white men, 
it is here given in full as narrated by Anthony Bagnall, Powell and 
Todkill, Smith's companions, who wrote it down at the time. They 
say : 

"In the discovery of this river, that some called Eappahannock, 
we were kindly entertained by the people of Moraughtacund. Here 
we encountered our old friend Mosco, a lusty savage of Wigh- 
conisco, upon the river Patawomeck [Potomac]. We supposed 



♦ Howison's U. S. History, from Smith, 
t Walter Russell, in Smith. 



14 History of Frederichsluvg, Virginia 

him some Frenchman's son because he had a thick, black, bushy, 
beard, and the savages seldom have any at all, of which he was not 
a little proud to see so many of his countrymen. Wood and water 
he would fetch us, guide us any whether; nay, cause divers of his 
countrymen help us tow against wind or tide from place to place 
till we came to Patawomeck. 

"The next morning we went up the river, [Rappahannock] and 
our friend Mosco followed us along the shore, and at last desired to 
go with us in our boat. But, as we passed by Pisacack, Matchopeak 
and Mecuppom, three towns situated uponaliigh white cliffs; the 
other side all a low plain marsh, and the river there but narrow, 
thirty or forty of the Eapahanocks had so accommodated themselves 
with branches, as we took them for little bushes growing among 
the sedge, till seeing their arrows strike the targets and drop in the 
river; whereat Mosco fell flat in the boat on his face, crying, the 
Eapahanocks, which presently we espide to be the bushes, which, at 
our first volley fell down in the sedge : when we were near half a 
mile from them, they showed themselves dancing and singing very 
merrily. 

"The kings of Pessassack, Nandtaughtacund and Cnltatawoman, 
used us kindly, and all their people neglected not anything to 
Mosco to bring us to them. 

"Betwixt Secobeck and Massawteck is a small isle or two which 
cause the river to be broader than ordinary ; there it pleased God to 
take one of our company called Master Fetherstone [Richard 
Fetherstone, Gent.], that all the time he had been in this country, 
had behaved himself honestly, valiantly and industriously; where 
in a little bay, called Fetherstone's bay, we buried him with a volly 
of shot: the rest, not withstanding their ill diet and bad lodging 
crowded in so small a barge, in so many dangers, never resting, but 
always tossed to and again, had all well recovered their healths. 

"The next day we sailed so high as our boat would float; there 
setting up crosses and graving our names in the trees. Our sen- 
tinel saw an arrow fall by him, though we had ranged up and down 
more than an hour, in digging in the earth, looking of stones, herbs 
and springs, not seeing where a savage could well hide himself. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 15 

"Upon the alarm, by that we had recovered our arms there was 
about an hundred nimble Indians skipping from tree to tree, letting 
fly their arrows so fast as they could; the trees here served us as 
baricades as well as they. But Mosco did us more service than we 
expected; for having shot away his quiver of arrows he ran to the 
boat for more. The arrows of Mosco at the first made them pause 
upon the matter, thinking by his bruit and skipping, there were 
many savages. About half an hour this continued, then they all 
vanished as suddenly as they approached. Mosco followed them so 
far as he could see us, till they were out of sight. As we returned 
there lay a savage as dead, shot in the knee ; but taking him up we 
found he had life : which Mosco seeing, never was dog more furi- 
ous against a bear, than Mosco was to beat out his brains. So we 
had him to our boat where our Chirurgian [A. Bagnall], who went 
with us to cure our Captain's hurt of the stingray, so dressed this 
savage that within an hour after he looked somewhat cheerfully 
and did eat and speak. In the mean time we contented Mosco in 
helping him to gather up their arrows, which were an armful; 
whereof he gloried not a little. 

"Then we desired Mosco to know what he was and what countries 
were beyond the mountains; the poor savage mildly answered, he 
and all with him were of Hassininga, where there are three kings 
more, like unto them, namely the King of Stegora, the King of 
Tauxsintania and the King of Shakahonea, that were come to 
Mohaskahod, which is only a hunting town, and the bounds betwixt 
the Kingdom of the Mannahocks and the Nandtaughtacunds, but 
hard by where we were. 

"We demanded why they came in that manner to betray us, that 
came to them in peace and to seek their loves; he answered, they 
heard we were a people come from under the world, to take their 
world from them. 

"We asked him how many worlds he did know; he replied, he 
knew no more but that which was under the sky that covered him, 
which were the Powhatans, with the Monacans and the Massawo- 
meks that were higher up in the mountains. 

"Then we asked him what was beyond the mountains, he answered 



16 Histonj of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

the sun; but of anything else he knew nothing because the woods 
were not burnt. [A foot note says 'they cannot travel but where 
the woods are burnt.'] 

"These and many such questions were demanded concerning 
the Massawomecks, the Monacans, their own country and where 
were the kings of Stegora, Tauxsintania and the rest. The Mon- 
acans, he said, were their neighbors and friends, and did dwell as 
they in the hilly countries by small rivers, living upon roots and 
fruits, but chiefly by hunting. The Massawomeks did well upon 
a great water, and had many boats, and so many men that they 
made war with all the world. For their kings, they were gone 
every one a several way with their men on hunting. But those 
with him came thither a fishing till they saw us, notwithstanding 
they would be all together at night at Mahaskahod. 

"For his relation we gave him many toys, with persuations to go 
with us : and he as earnestly desired us to stay the coming of those 
kings that for his good usage should be friends with us, for he was 
brother to Hassininga. But Mosco advised us presently to be gone, 
for they were all naught; yet we told him we would not till it was 
night. All things we made ready to entertain what came, and 
Mosco was as dilligent in triming his arrows. 

"The night being come we all embarked, for the river was so 
narrow, had it been light the land on the one side was so high they 
might have done us exceeding much mischief. All this while the 
King of Hassininga was seeking the rest, and had consultation a 
good time what to do. But by their spies seeing we were gone, it 
was not long before we heard their arrows dropping on every side 
the boat ; we caused our savages to call unto them, but such a yell- 
ing and hallowing they made that they heard nothing, but now and 
then [we shot off] a piece, aiming so near as we could where we 
heard the most voices. Moor than twelve miles they followed us in 
this manner ; then the day appearing, we found ourselves in a broad 
bay out of danger of their shot, where we came to an anchor, and 
fell to breakfast. Not so much as speaking to them till the sun was 
risen. 

''Being well refreshed, we untied our targets that covered us as a 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 17 

deck, and all showed ourselves with those shields on our arms^ and 
swords in our hands, and also our prisoner Amoroleck. A long dis- 
course there was betwixt his countrymen and him, how good 
we were, how well we used him, how we had a Patawomek with us 
[who] loved us as his life that would have slain him had we not 
preserved him, and that he should have his liberty would they be 
his friends ; and to do us any hurt it was impossible. 

"Upon this they all hung their bows and quivers upon the trees, 
and one came sw;iming aboard us with a bow tied on his head, and 
another with a quiver of arrows, which they delivered our Captain 
as a present : the Captain having used them so kindly as he could 
told them the other three Kings should do the like, and then the 
great King of our world should be their friend ; whose men we were. 
It was no sooner demanded than performed, so upon a low moorish 
point of land we went to the shore, where those four Kings came 
and received Amoroleck : nothing they had but bows, arrows, 
tobacco-bags and pipes : when we desired, none refused to give us, 
wondering at everything we had, and heard we had done: Our 
pistols they took for pipes, which they much desired, but we did 
content them with other commodities. And so we left four or five 
hundred of our merry Mannahocks singing, dancing and making 
merry and set sale for Moraughtacund. 

"In our returns we visited all our friends, that rejoiced much at 
our victory against the Mannahocks, who many times had wars also 
with them, but now they were friends; and desired we should be 
friends with the Eapahanocks. Our Captain told them, they had 
twice assaulted him that came only in love to do them good, and, 
therefore, now he would burn all their houses, destroy their corn, 
and forever hold them his enemies till they made him satisfaction. 
They desired to know what that should be. He told them they 
should present him the King's bow and arrows, and not offer to 
come armed where he was; that they should be friends with the 
Moraughtacunds, his friends, and give him their King's son in 
pledge to perform it ; and then all King James and his men should 
be their friends. Upon this they presently sent to the Eapa- 
hanocks to meet him at the place where they first fought where 
2 



18 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

would be the Kings of Nantantacund and Pissassac : which accord- 
ing to their promise were there so soon as we; where Eapahanock 
presented his bow and arrows, and confirmed all Ave desired, except 
his son, having no more but him he could not live without him, 
but instead of his son he would give him the three women Moraugh- 
tacund had stolen. This was accepted : and so in three or four 
canoes so many as could went with us to- Moraughtacund, where 
Mosco made them such relations, and gave to his friends so many 
bows and arrows, that they no less loved him than admired us. 
The three women were brought our Captain, to each he gave a chain 
of beads : and then causing Moraughtacund, Mosco and Eapahanock 
stand before him, bid Eapahanock take her he loved best, and 
Moraughtacund choose next, and to Mosco he gave the third. 
Upon this away went their canoes over the water, to fetch their 
venison, and all the provision they could; and they that wanted 
boats swam over the river. The dark [darlmess] commanded us 
then to rest. 

"The next day there was of men, women and children, as we con- 
jectured, six or seven hundred, dancing and singing; and not a 
bow nor arrow seen amongst them. Mosco changed his name to 
Uttasantasough, which we interpret stranger, for so they call us. 
All promising ever to be our friends and to plant corn purposely 
for us; and we to provide hatchets, beads and copper for them, we 
departed ; giving them a volley of shot, and they us as loud shouts 
and cries as their strenghs could utter." 

This account of Capt. Smith's exploration of the Eappahannock 
river, and the country bordering on the stream is highly interesting 
for three reasons. It shows beyond dispute, we think, that Capt. 
Smith and his little band were the first white men to tread the soil 
where is now located the city of Fredericksburg. It gives us a 
complete history of the voyage, so that we may become his travell- 
ing comjDanions as he ascends the river, encounters the Indians, 
prospects for gold and other rich deposits in the earth about the 
falls; also as he descends the river and calls the Indian kings to- 
gether, makes friends of them, settles differences between them 
and their tribes and sails out of the river loaded with provisions, 



History of Fredericlcsburg, Virginia 19 

carrying with him their promise that they will raise more for him 
in the future. It gives us the names of many of the tribes of 
Indians, on the Rappahannock, their kings, towns and other places, 
so that we may look at his map of Virginia and locate many of 
them. It informs us that Richard Fetherstone, who accompanied 
Smith, was taken sick and died while he was here and was buried in 
the vicinity of Fredericksburg, he being the first white man to find 
sepulture in this part of Virginia. 

The locations of the following places, found on Smith's map of 
Virginia, and mentioned in this work, will be of interest to many, 
and especially to those who are familiar with the country. They 
seem to be located as follows : Secobeck was just west of the city's 
almshouse; Massauteck was located Just back of Chatham; Fether- 
stone's bay is in Stafford, opposite the upper end of Hunter's 
Island ; Accoqueck was near R. Innis Taylor's residence ; Sockbeck 
was in the neighborhood of J. Bowie Gray's; Anasheroans were 
about Moss Neck; King JSTandtaughtacund lived near Port Royal; 
King Cultatawoman was located in Stafford, just below Snowdon; 
King Pissassack was located in Westmoreland county, near Leeds- 
town; King Tapahanock lived in the upper part of Lancaster 
county; Mahakahod was about the line of Stafford and Culpeper 
counties; Hassininga was about Indian Town in Orange county; 
Stegara was in the upper part of Orange, on the Rapid Ann river ; 
and Tauxuntania was located near the foot of the Blue Ridge moun- 
tains. 

The several towns at and near the falls of the river made it a 
general rendezvous of all tribes for this part of Virginia. It was 
a favorite place at which to meet for hunting, fishing and other 
sports, as was the case when Smith reached here. It is more than 
probable that the beautiful and fascinating Pocahontas, who saved 
the life of John Smith and who captivated the bold and fearless 
Rolfe, spent some time at this point, in her journeyings, resting 
here and feasting her youthful eyes upon the magnificent scenery of 
the Rappahannock falls, and engaging in the sports and pastimes of 
her distinguished father's subjects. 

We are told* that in 1611 she was entrusted by her father, Pow- 



* Howe's History of Virginia. 



30 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

hatan, to Chief Japazaws, who carried her to his home on the Poto- 
mac river, where she lived some time in retirement — that is, away 
from the stirring scenes around Jamestown. It is not, therefore, 
unreasonable to suppose that much of the time she was with Japa- 
zaws was spent at this point, the favorite gathering place of all the 
tribes at the different seasons of the year. 

Why Pocahontas left her home for the protection of Japazaws 
is not positively known. Howe thinks Powhatan was preparing 
for a great war with the new settlers and wanted to get his daughter 
away from danger and the exposure and discomfort that would 
result from such a conflict. Stith gives no reason, ^^except it was 
to withdraw herself from being a witness to the frequent butcheries 
of the English, whose folly and rashness, after Smith's departure, 
put it out of her power to save them." 

In the year 1612 Capt. Argall took a trip up the Potomac in 
search of corn and other supplies for the English settlers, fell in 
with the old chief and purchased the young princess from him, the 
price agreed upon being a copper kettle, which was readily given. 
This prize Argall took to Jamestown, where he hoped to receive a 
considerable sum from Powhatan for her redemption, but the old 
King became very angry and refused to pay anything, but declared 
he preferred to fight for her. The young princess afterwards mar- 
ried Capt. John Rolfe. 

At what time the first settlement was made at Fredericksburg is 
unknown, but it must have been at a very early date. It is more 
than likely that it was one of the many plantations that dotted the 
banks of our principal rivers in the early settlement of the country, 
for, in 1622, John Smith proposed to the London Company "to 
protect all their planters from the James to the Potomac"* which 
territory must have included one or more plantations on the Rappa- 
hannock river, because it lies immediately between the James and 
Potomac rivers and is the largest stream between those two rivers. 
And if there was a plantation on the Rappahannock it was, no doubt, 
in the neighborhood of Fredericksburg. John Smith had visited 
the place twelve years before and had found it "beautiful and invit- 

* Howe's History. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 21 

ing" and an excellent place for a settlement, and possibly he recom- 
mended and procured the location of a plantation in this vicinity. 

But, whether or not this supposition be true, we know that the 
Eappahannock falls some years afterwards became a point of con- 
siderable interest and steps were taken to fortify and defend it; 
and for that purpose a fort was ordered to be built here in 1676 
to protect settlers from the incursions of the Indians, who con- 
tinued troublesome, which was garrisoned by quite a number of men. 
"At a grand assemblie held at James cittie, between the 20th of 
September, 1674, and the 17th of March, 1675," it was ordered that 
"One hundred and eleven men out of Gloucester be garrisoned at 
one ffort or place of defence, at or near the ifalls of Eappahannock 
Eiver, of which ifort Major Lawrence Smith to be Captain or 
Chiefe Commander," and that the fort be furnished with "ffour 
hundred and eighty pounds of powder and ffourteen hundred and 
fforty three pounds of Shott."* 

This fort, it seems, was not constructed that year, but in 1679, 
Major Lawrence Smith, upon his own suggestion, was authorized to 
settle or "seate down at or near said fort by the last day of March, 
1681," which we are informed he did, and to have in readiness, 
on all occasions at the beating of a drum, fifty able men, well 
armed, with sufficient ammunition, and two hundred more within 
the space of a mile along the river, prepared always to march twenty 
miles in any direction from the fort; and it was stipulated that 
should they be obliged to go more than twenty miles distance, they 
were to be paid for their time thus employed at the rate paid to 
other "soulders." He was also empowered "to execute Martiall dis- 
cipline" among the fifty "souldiers so put in arms," both in times 
of war and peace, and with "two others of said privileged place," 
he was to hear and determine all cases, civil and criminal, that 
should arise in said limits, as a county court might do, and to make 
by-laws for the same. These military settlers were privileged 
from arrest for any debts except those due the King and those con- 
tracted among themselves, and were free from taxes and levies ex- 
cept from those laid within their own limits. 



• Acts of House of Burgesses. 



2^ Eistonj of FredericJvshurg, Virginia 

This fort was not named by the act authorizing its construction, 
and if any was given it after its completion, it does not appear 
in the histories or records at our disposal. It is quite likely it had 
some designation, if nothing more than the Eappahan-nock fort- 
Smith's fort on the Bapphannock — and it may have been known 
by one or the other until the place was laid out for a town and re- 
ceived its present name. Or it may have been known as "The 
Lease Land," the designation it had when it was incorporated 
forty-six years afterwards. 

It has been sugggsted, and believed by some few to be true, that 
this fort was built at Germanna, about eighteen miles above the 
Rappahannock falls, but this claim cannot be maintained. It is 
known that all of these plantations and military stations were 
located on navigable rivers and were reached and communicated 
with mostly, if not exclusively, by sail vessels, and it is not reason- 
able to suppose that this fort was located eighteen miles above tide- 
water, where it could not be reached by such vessels. In addition 
to this objection, it may be added that the "gallant cavalier. Gov- 
ernor Spotswood, at the head of the chivalry of Virginia," never 
made his dash above the falls to the "blue ridge of mountains" 
until the year 1730* [1716 is the correct date], nearly fifty years 
after the construction of the fort at or near the falls. 

Besides this. Governor Spotswood did not come to Virginia as Gov- 
ernor until the year 1710. After coming to this country he became 
possessed of lands on the Rappahannock, at the mouth of Massa- 
ponax run, and from there up the ridge, west of Fredericksburg, 
to the Rapidan river at Germanna. We do not know when he be- 
came possessed of these lands, but it is known that he built a wharf 
near the mouth of Massaponax run and opened the ridge road from 
there to Germanna, now called Mine Road, over which he hauled 
his iron ore for shipment. And so it was said, and it was true, 
that he could go from his wharf on the Rappahannock to Germanna 
on the Rapidan on his own lands without crossing a stream. 

Germanna was settled in April, 1714, thirt3i'-eight years after 
this fort was built and thirty-four years before Governor Spots- 

* Howe's History of Virginia. 




The Free Bridge over the Rappahannock River to Stafford Heights. 
(See page 171) 




The City Court House and Clerk's Office. 
(See page 142) 



History of Fre-derickshurg, Virginia 23 . 

wood came to Virginia. It was settled by twelve German families, 
who had been induced by Governor Spotswood to come over from 
Germany to develop the iron and silver mines he desired opened 
on his land, recently acquired by him, several miles above the falls. 
These were the first iron mines opened and operated in this new 
country, and being the first worker in iron gave him the honorable 
appellation of the "Tubal Cain of America." 

It has been a tradition held by some that the Germans, who set- 
tled Germanna, came to this country as paupers, and when they 
landed at Tappahannock, where their vessel anchored, they were 
unable to pay their passage and were virtually sold to Governor 
Spotswood for a term of years, he to pay the passage money and 
furnish the land upon which the)'' were to settle. It is further said 
that he induced them to settle on the river, above Fredericksburg, 
where they built small huts, called the place Germanna and opened 
the mines which proved so remunerative to the Governor. 

Much of this statement, however, is denied by the descendants of 
these pioneers, who resent the charge of pauperism and show that 
these first settlers were men of education, were skilled miners, and 
that they came to this country under contract with Governor Spots- 
wood, bringing with them letters of commendation from gentlemen 
of influence and official position. 

From a paper prepared, and left to posterity, by Eev. James 
Kemper, a grandson of the emigrant, John Kemper,* we are able to 
cull some interesting facts connected with these people, who became 
neighbors and friends of the early settlers of Fredericksburg, and 
many of whose descendants are now among us. 

These Germans "did not 'happen' to come to Virginia, but came 
upon the invitation of the Baron de Graffureid, who was a friend 
to Governor Spotswood, and for the express purpose of developing 
the iron ore deposits discovered by the latter upon his lands in the 
present county of Spotsylvania. These people came from the town 
of Miisen, which was then in the old province of Nassau Siegen, 
Westphalia, Germany. At Miisen there is an iron mine which has 
been worked since the early part of the fourteenth century, and is 



* Furnished by Chas. B. Kemper, Esq. 



^4 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

operated to this day. They were skilled workers in iron and steel 
from the Miisen mines and built the old furnace in Spotsylvania 
county." 

These pioneers remained at Germanna until about 1720, when, 
owing to some difference with Governor Spotswood, they removed 
to what is now Fauquier county, then Stafford, later Prince Wil- 
liam, and in 1759 the portion they settled became Fauquier. They 
settled about nine miles south of Warrenton on a small stream 
called Licking Eun and named the place Germantown— thus keep- 
ing up the German identity, — which is one mile north of Madison 
station on the Southern railroad. 

Eev. James Kemper, in the paper referred to, says the first year 
they were in Germantown they "packed all of their provisions from 
Fredericksburg on their heads and raised their first crop with their 
hoes, in both of which the women bore a part." This shows that 
the village, afterwards called Fredericksburg, was the trading place 
of the country above the falls at that period. 

The names of the twelve men who, with their families, settled 
Germanna, are John Kemper, John Huffman, Jacob Holtzclaw, 
Tillman Weaver, John Fishback, Harman Fishback, Harman Utter- 
back, John Joseph Martin, Peter Hitt, Jacob Coons, < — Way- 
man and Hanback. The Eev. Henry Hagen was their 

minister. 

These people were picked men for a special purpose, to do that 
which no one then in Virginia could do — manufacture iron. Their 
descendants are scattered all over this country and have filled high 
positions in the Army and Navy, as well as in State and Church. 
They did two things worthy of note: They laid the foundation 
of the German Eeformed Church in the United States,* and also 
the iron and steel industry, which now requires billions of dollars 
to carry on successfully, and both of these were done at Germanna, 
in Spotsylvania county, Virginia. 

It has also been contended that the fort, built near the falls of 

* It Is claimed by Rev. James Kemper that the German Reformed Church, 
organized at Germanna in 1714, was the first church of that denomination 
planted in this country. 



History of Fred%ricksburg , Virginia 25 

the Eappahannoek river, was constructed on the north side of the 
river and that the place where Falmouth now stands was the center 
of the military district.* This assertion is not substantiated by 
any record we have seen, and we are not prepared, in the absence of 
proof, to accept it. 

There are two reasons which may be given which, we think, will 
show that the site of Falmouth would have been an improper and 
unsafe location for the fort, both of which would have suggested 
themselves to the constructors of the fort. One is, that the place 
is on the bend of the river and is surrounded by high hills, now 
known as Stafford Heights. From the crest of these hills the fort 
could have been attacked by the enemy and captured by any small 
force. And if it had not been captured the elevation would have 
given the Indians great advantage over the garrison, making their 
arrows very effective. To have placed the fort on either one of the 
high hills would have thrown the garrison too far from the river 
to protect their sail vessels, and in case they had been compelled to 
give up the fort they could not have reached their vessels in the 
river, which, in the past, had proved a safer refuge than the poorly 
constructed forts of that day. 

The other reason is, that to have constructed the fort on the north 
side of the river would have placed the almost impassable Eappa- 
hannoek between the garrison and their remote friends on the south 
side, from whom alone they could look for relief in case they had 
been besieged, or if they had been compelled to retreat. 

For these reasons, if for no other, we are satisfied that the fort 
was not located on the north side of the river, but on the south side 
and in the vicinity of where Fredericksburg now stands. 

But this author, in speaking of the fort, says "not one stone or 
brick of the fprt is left on another, but the terraces on the long 
hill back of the riverside houses still bear traces of ancient work.'^ 
But this does not prove the contention. 

It should be remembered that forts were not constructed in those 
times of stones and bricks, nor even of earthen walls, as they have 



• Mr. M. D. Conway, in Magazine of American History, Vol. 27, No. 3,. 
page 186. 



26 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

since been, but of wooden poles or logs, and very temporary at that. 
John Fontaine gives a minute description of the fort built by the 
Germans at Germanna in the year 1714, which will help us to 
understand what a fort was in those days. 

"We walked about the town, which is palisaded with stakes stuck 
in the ground, and laid close the one to the other, and of substance 
to bear out a mussket-shot. There are but nine families, and they 
have nine houses, built all in a line; and before every house, about 
twenty feet distant from it, they have small sheds built for their hogs 
and hens, so that the hog-sties and houses make a street. The 
place that is poled in is a pentagon, very regularly laid out; and 
in the very center there is a block-house, made with five sides, which 
answer to the five sides of the great enclosure ; there are loop holes 
through it, from which you may see all the inside of the enclosure. 
This was intended for a retreat for the people, in case they were 
not able to defend the palisadoes, if attacked by the Indians."* 
Col. Byrd, in 1732, called this a fort. 



* Memoirs of a Huguenot Family, page 268. 



CHAPTEE II 

THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSE SHOE. 

Governor Spotstvood and Others Start on an Expedition over the 
Blue Ridge Mountains — They Pass Through what is now Fred- 
ericl'shurg — They Join Others at Germanna, where they make 
Extensive Preparations — The Country Rough and the Woods 
Dense — Bears, Deer, TurJceys, Squirrels and Snakes Plenti- 
ful — The Summit of the Mountain Reached — The Sublime 
Scene — The Health of the King Drank and the Country Taken 
Possession of in His Name — The Shenandoah River, &c. 

Two years after the settlement of Germanna Governor Spotswood 
visited the place, in company with gentlemen and others who were 
to accompany him in his famous expedition over the Blue Ridge 
mountains, which has been the theme of the writers of song and 
story, and upon which has recently been founded a secret benevolent 
order. So much has been written about this expedition, in this 
country and in Europe, into which so much romance has been 
woven, and yet so little is known about it by the general public, at 
the expense of length and tediousness to the reader of the narrative, 
we propose to give John Fontaine's* diary, written daily as they 
progressed on the journey, from the time he left Williamsburg with 
the Governor, until he returned to that city, that we may be thor- 
oughly informed of all the particulars. The expedition was made 
in August and September, 1716, and the following is John Eon- 
taine's diary : 

Williamsburg, 20th August, 1716. — In the morning got my 
horses ready, and what baggage was necessary, and I waited on the 

* John Fontaine was the son of Rev. James Fontaine, of France, a Huguenot 
who fled to England to avoid religious persecution, and thence settled in Scot- 
land, where he ended his days. The name originally was De la Fontaine, but 
John's grandfather, "from motives of humility, cut ofE the De la, the indication 
of the nobility of the family." John came to this country iif 1716, with his 
brother Peter, and at once became a friend and companion of Governor Spots- 
wood's, wliile Peter became a minister of ability and was very popular. Prom 
these two brothers sprang the Fontaines of this country. 

[27] 



28 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

Governor who was in readiness for an expedition over the Appala- 
chian mountains. We breakfasted and about ten got on horseback^ 
and, at four came to the Brickhouse, upon York River, where we 
crossed the ferry and at six came to Mr. Austin Moore's house* on 
Mattapony River, in King William County; here we lay all night 
and were well entertained. 

21st. — Fair weather. At ten we set out from Mr. Moore's, and 
crossed the river of Mattapony, and continued on the road, and 
were on horseback till nine of the clock at night, before we came to 
Mr. Robert Beverley's house where we were well entertained, and 
remained this night. 

22nd. — At nine in the morning we set out from Mr. Beverley's. 
The Governor left his chaise here, and mounted his horse. The 
weather fair, we continued on our journey until we came to Mr, 
Woodford's where we lay, and were well entertained. This house 
lies on Rappahannock River ten miles below the falls. 

23rd. — Here we remained all this day, and diverted ourselves 
and rested our horses. 

24th. — In the morning, at seven, we mounted our horses and 
came to Austin Smith's house f about ten, where we dined, and re- 
mained till about one of the clock, when Ave set out, and about nine 
of the clock we came to the German-town, where we rested that 
night — bad beds and indifferent entertainment. 

German-town, 25th. — After dinner we went to see the mines, but 
I could not observe that there was any good mine. The Germans 
pretend that it is a silver mine; we took some of the ore and en- 
deavored to run it, but could get nothing out of it, and I am of 
opinion it will not come to anything, no, not as much as lead. 
Many of the gentlemen of the county are concerned in this work. 
We returned and to our hard beds. 

26th. — At seven we got up, and several gentlemen of the country. 



* Austain Moore lived at Chelsea, on the Mattaponi river. He was the 
Governor's son-in-law. — Maury's History of Virginia. 

f Austin Smith lived in the village or settlement afterwards named Fred- 
ericksburg. He is supposed to have been a descendant of Lawrence Smith, who 
commanded the fort here in 1681. He no doubt has descendants here now 
bearing the name of Smith, while some are known by other names. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 29 

that were to meet the Governor at this place for the expedition, 
arrived here, as also two companies of Eangers, consisting each of 
six men, and an officer. Four Meherrin Indians also came.* In 
the morning I diverted myself with other gentlemen shooting at 
& mark. At twelve we dined, and after dinner we mounted our 
horses and crossed the Rappahannoc Eiver that runs by this place, 
and went to find out some convenient place for our horses to feed 
in, and to view the land hereabouts. Our guide left us, and we 
went so far in the woods that we did not know the way back again ; 
and so we hallowed and fired our guns. Half an hour after sunset 
the guide came to us. and we went to cross the river by a ford higher 
up. The descent to the river being steep, and the night dark, we 
were obliged to dismount and lead our horses down to the river 
side, which was very troublesome. The bank being very steep, the 
greatest part of our company went into the water to mount their 
horses, where they were up to the crotch in the water. After we 
had forded the river and came to the other side, where the bank 
-was steep also, in going up, the horse of one of our company slipped 
and fell back into the river on the top of his rider, but he received 
no other damage than being heartily wet, which made sport for the 
rest. A hornet stung one of the gentlemen in the face which 
swelled prodigiously. About ten we came to the town, where we 
supped, and to bed. 

27th. — We got our tents in order, and our horses shod. About 
twelve I was taken with a violent headache and pains in all my 
l3ones, so that I was obliged to lie down, and was very bad that day. 

28th, — About one in the morning I was taken with a violent 
fever, which abated about six at night, and I began to take the bark, 
and had one ounce divided into eight doses, and took two of them 
I)y ten of the clock that night. The fever abated, but I had great 
pains in my head and bones. 

29th. — In the morning we got all things in readiness, and about 



* These Indians came from the Meherrin river, where Governor Spotswood 
owned a large body of land. He had opened a school there for the education 
and conversion of the Indian children, which made him quite popular with the 
Indians in that quarter. The Governor and Mr. Fontaine visited that part of 
-the country a few weeks before they started on this expedition. 



30 History of Frederichslurg , Virginia 

one we left the Gennan-town to set out on our intended Journey. 
At five in the afternoon, the Governor gave orders to encamp near 
a small river, three miles from Germanna, which we called Expedi- 
tion Run, and here we lay all night. The first encampment was 
called Beverley Camp, in honor of one of the gentlemen of our 
party. We made great fires, and supped, and drank good punch. 
By ten of the clock I had taken all of my ounce of Jesuit's Bark, 
but my head was much out of order. 

30th. — In the morning about seven of the clock, the trumpet 
sounded to awake all the company, and we got up. One Austin 
Smith, one of the gentlemen with us, having a fever, returned 
home. We had lain upon the ground under cover of our tents, and 
we found by the pains in our bones that we had not had good beds 
to lie upon. At nine in the morning, we sent our servants and bag- 
gage forward, and we remained, because two of the Governor's 
horses had strayed. At half past two we got the horses, at three we 
mounted, and at half an hour after four, we came up with our 
baggage at a small river, three miles on the way, which we called 
Mine Eiver, because there was an appearance of a silver mine by it. 
We made about three miles more, and came to another small river, 
which is at the foot of a small mountain, so we encamped here and 
called it Mountain Eun, and our camp we called Todd's Camp. 
We had good pasturage for our horses, and venison in abundance 
for ourselves which we roasted before the fire upon wooden forks, 
and so we went to bed in our tents. Made 6 miles this day. 

31st. — At eight in the morning we set out from Mountain Run, 
and after going five miles we came upon the upper part of Rappa- 
hannoc River. One of the gentlemen and I, we kept on one side 
of the company about a mile, to have the better hunting. I saw 
a deer, and shot him from my horse, but the horse threw me a ter- 
rible fall and ran away ; we ran after, and with a great deal of diffi- 
culty got him again ; but we could not find the deer I had shot, and 
we lost ourselves, and it was two hours before we could come upon 
the track of our company. About five miles further we crossed 
the same river again, and two miles further we met with a large 
bear, which • one of our company shot, and I got the skin. We 



History of Fredericksburg, 'Virginia 31 

killed several deer, and about two miles from the place where we 
killed the bear, we encamped upon Kappahannock Eiver. From 
our encampment we could see the Appalachian Hills very plain. 
We made large fires, pitched our tents, and cut bows to lie upon, 
had good liquor, and at ten we went to sleep. We always kept a. 
sentry at the 'Governor's door. We called this Smith's Camp. 
Made this day fourteen miles. 

1st September. — At eight we mounted our horses, and made the 
first five miles of our way through a very pleasant plain, which lies 
where Rappahannock Eiver forks. I saw there the largest timber, 
the finest and deepest mould, and the best grass that I ever did see.* 
We had some of our baggage put out of order, and our company dis- 
mounted, by hornets stinging the horses. This was some hind- 
rance, and did a little damage, but afforded a gTeat deal of diver- 
sion. We killed three bears this day, which exercised the horses 
as well as the men. We saw two foxes but did not pursue them; we 
killed several deer. About five of the clock, we came to a run of 
water at the foot of a hill, where we pitched our tents. We called 
the encampment Dr. Eobinson's Camp, and the river Blind Eun. 
We had good pasturage for our horses, and every one was cook for 
himself. We made our beds with bushes as before. On this day 
we made 13 miles. 

2nd. — At nine we were all on horseback and after riding about 
five miles we crossed Eappahannoc river, f almost at the head, where 
it is very small. We had a rugged way; we passed over a great 
many small runs of water, some of which were deep, and others very 
miiy. Several of our company were dismounted, some were down 
with their horses, others under their horses, and some thrown off. 
We saw a bear running doAvn a tree, but it being Sunday we did not 
endeavor to kill anything. We encamped at five by a small river 
we called White Oak Eiver, J and called our Camp Taylor's Camp. 

3rd. — About eight we were on horseback, and about ten we came 
to a thicket, so tightly laced together, that we had a great deal of 



* This must be at the junction of the Rapidan and Robinson rivers, 
f This is the Rapidan river probably. 

j It is likely that this was Conway river, a tributary of the Rapidan, and 
the line between Madison and Green counties. 



32 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

trouble to get through; our baggage was injured, our clothes torn 
all to rags, and the saddles and holsters also torn. About five of 
the clock we encamped almost at the head of James Eiver,* just be- 
low the great mountains. We called this camp Colonel Eobertson's 
Camp. We made all this day but eight miles. 

4th. — We had two of our men sick with the measles, and one of 
our horses poisoned with a rattlesnake. We took the heaviest of 
our baggage, our tired horses, and the sick men, and made as con- 
venient a lodge for them as we could, and left people to guard them, 
and hunt 'for them. We had finished this work by twelve, and so 
we went out. The sides of the mountains were so full of vines and 
briers, that we were forced to clear most of the way before us. We 
crossed one of the small mountains this side of the Appalachian, 
and from the top of it we had a fine view of the plains below. We 
were obliged to walk up the most of the way, there being an abun- 
dance of loose stones on the side of the hill. I killed a large rattle- 
snake here, and the other people killed three more. We made about 
four miles and so came to the side of James River, where a man 
may jump over it, and there we pitched our tents. As the people 
were lighting the fire, there came out of a large log of wood a pro- 
digious snake, which they killed; so this camp was called Eattle- 
snake Camp, but it was otherwise called Brook's Camp. 

5th. — A fair day. At nine we were mounted; we were obliged 
to have axe-men to clear the way in some places. We followed the 
windings of James River, observing that it came from the very top 
of the mountains. We killed two rattlesnakes during our ascent. 
In s"ome places it was very steep, in others it was so that we could 
ride up. About one of the clock we got to the top of the mountain ; 
about four miles and a half, and we came to the very head spring 
of James River, where it runs no bigger than a man's arm, from 
under a large stone. We drank King Greorge's health and all the 
Royal Family's at the very top of the Appalachian mountains. 
About a musket-shot from the spring is another, which rises and 
runs down on the other side; it goes westward, and we thought we 



* This is unquestionably the north forlJ or north branch of the Rlvanna 
river, a tributary of the James, which runs through Green county, its head 
waters coming from the sides of the Blue Ridge mountain. 




'.'Mary Washington House," home of Mary, the Mother of Wash- 
ington, and where she died in 1789; now the prop- 
erty of the A. P. of V. A. 

(See page 157) 



£^^ 


ll«& 


Jp:;"^^;;^ 




W if-" '' ' ' 'S"r''''''ISM|Siw^'- 


' "^'■'** 


*t 



'Federal Hill," home of Thomas Reade Rootes, Gov. Brooke, 

etc.; now the residence of Mrs. H. Theodore Wight. 

(See page 153) 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 33 

could go down that way, but we met with such prodigious preci- 
pices, that we were obliged to return to the top again. We found 
some trees which had been formerly marked, I suppose, by the 
JSTorthem Indians, and following these trees, we found a good, safe 
descent. Several of the company were for returning; but the 
Governor persuaded them to continue on. About five we were down 
on the other side, and continued our way for about seven miles 
further, until we came to a large river, by the side of which we 
encamped. We made this day fourteen miles. I, being somewhat 
more curious than the rest, went on a high rock on the top of the 
mountain, to see fine prospects, and I lost my gun. We saw, when 
we were over the mountains, the footing of elks and buffaloes, and 
their beds. We saw a vine which bore a sort of wild cucumber; 
and a shrub with a fruit like unto a currant. We eat very good 
wild grapes. We called this place Spotswood Camp, after our 
Governor. 

6th. — ^We crossed the river, which we called Euphrates.* It is 
very deep; the main course of the water is ISTorth; it is fourscore 
yards wide in the narrowest part. We drank some healths on the 
other side, and returned; after which I went a swimming in it. 
We could not find any fordable place, except the one by which we 
crossed, and it was deep in several places. I got some grass hoppers 
and fished ; and another and I, we caught a dish of fish, some perch, 
and a fish they called chub. The others went a hunting, and killed 
deer and turkeys. The Governor had graving irons, but could not 
grave anything, the stones were so hard, I graved my name on a tree 
by the river side; and the Governor buried a bottle with a paper 
enclosed, on which he writ that he took possession of this place in 
the name and for King George the First of England.* We had a 



* This is the Shenandoah river, as no other river in the Valley answers to 
Mr. Fontaine's description, and which is a very important part of his narra- 
tive. The distance of the river from the mountains and the description of the 
streams crossed in reaching the mountains, enable us to determine with con- 
siderable accuracy the route the Governor and his party took as they crossed 
the Blue Ridge into the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, "the Granary of the 
World." A careful inspection of the map will show that they passed through 
the counties of Orange, Madison and the northern portion of Green over into 
Rockingham, where the Shenandoah river is about seventy-five or eighty yards 
wide and runs within a few miles of the Blue Ridge mountains. 
3 



34 History of FredericTcsburg , Virginia 

good dinner^ and after it we got the men together, and loaded all 
their arms, and we drank the King's health in Champagne, and 
fired a volley — the Princess's health in Burgundy, and fired a 
volley, and all the rest of the Eoyal Family in Claret, and a volley. 
"We had several sorts of liquors, viz : Virginia red wine and white 
wine, Irish usquebaugh, brandy, shrub, two sorts of rum, cham- 
pagne, canary, cherry, punch, water, cider, &c. 

I sent two of the rangers to look for my gun, which I dropped 
in the mountains; they found it, and brought it to me at night, 
and I gave them a pistole for their trouble. We called the highest 
mountain Mount George, and the one we crossed over Mount Spots- 
wood. 

7th. — At seven in the morning we mounted our horses, and 
parted with the rangers, who were to go further on, and we returned 
homewards ; we repassed the mountains, and at five in the afternoon 
we came to Hospital Camp, where we left our sick men, and heavy 
baggage and we found all things well and safe. We camped here, 
and called it Captain Clouder's Camp. 

8th. — At nine we were all on horseback. We saw several bears 
and deer, and killed some wild turkeys. We encamped at the side 
of a run, and called the place Mason's Camp. We had good forage 
for our horses, and we lay as usual. Made twenty miles this day. 

9th. — We set out at nine of the clock, and before twelve we saw 
several bears, and killed three. One of them attacked one of our 



* Governor Spotswood, when he undertook the great discovery of the Passage 
over the Mountains, attended with a sufficient guard, and pioneers and gentle- 
men, with a sufficient stoclj of provision, with abundant fatigue passed these 
mountains and cut his Majesty's name in a rock upon the highest of them, 
naming it Mount George ; and in complaisance the gentlemen from the Gov- 
ernor's name, called the mountain next in height Mount Alexander, 

For this expedition they were obliged to provide a great quantity of horse 
shoes (things seldom used in the lower parts of the country, where there are 
few stones) ; upon which account the Governor, upon their return, presented 
each of his companions with a golden horse shoe, (some of which I have seen 
studded with valuable stones resembling the heads of nails,) with this inscrip- 
tion on one side : Sic juvat transcendere montes, and on the other is written 
the tremontane order. 

This he instituted to encourage gentlemen to venture backwards, and make 
discoveries, and new settlements ; any gentleman being entitled to wear this 
golden shoe that can prove his having drunk his Majesty's health upon Mount 
George. — Hugh Jones, 1724. 



History of Fredericksburg, Yirginia 35 

men that was riding after him, and narrowly missed him; he tore 
his things that he had behind him from off the horse, and would 
have destroyed him, had he not had immediate help from the other 
men and our dogs. Some of the dogs suffered severely in this en- 
gagement. At two we crossed one of the branches of the Rappa- 
hannock Eiver, and at five we encamped on the side of the Rapid 
Ann, on a tract of land that Mr. Beverley hath design to take up. 
We made, this day, twenty-three miles, and called this Captain 
Smith's Camp. We eat part of one of the bears, which tasted very 
well, and would be good, and might pass for veal, if one did not 
know what it was. We were very merry, and diverted ourselves 
with our adventures. 

lOth. — At eight Ave were on horseback, and about ten, as we were 
going up a small hill, Mr. Beverley and his horse fell down, and 
they both rolled to the bottom; but there were no bones broken on 
either side. At twelve as we were crossing a run of water, Mr. 
Clouder fell in, so we called this place Clouder's Run. At one we 
arrived at a large spring, where we dined and drank a bowl of 
punch. We called this Fontaine's Spring. About two we got on 
horseback, and at four we reached Germanna. The Governor 
thanked the gentlemen for their assistance in the expedition. Mr. 
Mason left us here. I went at five to swim in the Rappahannoe 
River, and returned to the town. 

11th. — After breakfast all our company left us, excepting Dr. 
Robinson and Mr. Clouder. We walked all about the town, and 
the Governor settled his business with the Germans here, and ac- 
commodated the minister and the people, and then to bed. 

12th. — After breakfast went a fishing in the Rappahannock, and 
took seven fish, which we had for dinner ; after which Mr. Robinson 
and I, we endeavored to melt some ore in the Smith's forge, but 
could get nothing out of it. Dr. Robinson's and Mr. Clouder's boys 
were taken violently ill with fever. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Clouder 
left us, and the boys remained behind. 

13th. — About eight of the clock we mounted our horses, and went 
to the mine, where we took several pieces of ore; and at nine we 
set out from the mine, our servants having gone before; and about 



36 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

three we overtook them in the woods, and there the Governor and 
I dined. We mounted afterwards and continued on our road. I 
killed a black snake about five feet long. We arrived at Mr. Wood- 
ford's* on Eappahannoc River, about six, and remained there all 
night. 

14th. — At seven we sent our horses and baggage before us; and 
at ten we mounted our horses; we killed another snake, four feet 
nine inches long. At twelve we came to the church, where we met 
with Mr. Buckner, and remained till two, to settle some county busi- 
ness ; then we mounted our horses, and saw several wild turkeys on 
the road; and at seven we reached Mr. Beverley's house, which is 
on the head of the Mattapony Eiver, where we were well enter- 
tained. My boy was taken with a violent fever, and very sick. 

15th. — At seven my servant was some what better, and I sent him 
away with my horses, and about ten o'clock the Governor took his 
chaise, and I with him, and at twelve we came to a mill-dam, which 
we had great difficulty to get the chaise over. We got into it again, 
and continued on our way, and about five we arrived at Mr. Bay- 
lor's, where we remained all night. 

16th. — My servant was so sick, that I was obliged to leave him, 
and the Governor's servants took care of my horses. At ten we 
sent the chaise over the Mattapony Eiver, and it being Sunday, we 
went to church in King William County, where we heard a sermon 
from Mr. Monroe. After sermon we continued our journey until 
we came to Mr. West's plantation, where Colonel Basset waited for 
the Governor with his pinnace, and other boats for his servants. 
We arrived at his house by five of the clock, and were nobly enter- 
tained. 

17th. — At ten we left Colonel Basset's, and at three we arrived at 
Williamsburg, where we dined together and went to my lodgings, 
and to bed, being well tired as well as my horses. 

I reckon that from Williamsburg to the Euphrates Eiver is in all 
219 miles, so that our journey, going and coming, has been in all 
438 miles. 



* This Mr. Woodford is supposed to be the fatlier or grandfather of General 
Wm. Woodford, of Revolutionary fame. 



CHAPTER III 

Fredericl-sburg Incorporated iy Law — Col. Bijrd Walks About 
Town — Church Erected — Patrich Henry Rector — Augustine 
Washington a Trustee — Fairs Inaugurated — Limits of the 
Town Extended, &c. 

Although the site upon which Fredericksburg now stands was 
settled by white men, possibly in 1623, in the location of plantations 
by the London Company referred to by Capt. John Smith, and 
certainly in 1681 by the construction of Major Lawrence Smith's 
fort, yet the town was not incorporated for many years thereafter. 
That it was a trading station and a place of importance before its 
incorporation is admitted in the act of incorporation itself, besides 
earlier writers refer to it as such. If the inquiry should be made 
as to why the town was not incorporated earlier if it was a place 
of importance, it might be answered with the fact that prior to that 
time the authorities did not seem to think it was necessary, as 
neither Eichmond, Petersburg, ISTorfolk nor Alexandria was incor- 
porated for several years after Fredericksburg had a legal existence. 

Fredericksburg was founded by law in 1727 and named for Fred- 
erick, Prince of Wales, son of George the Second, by which act 
the people of the town showed their attachment to the royal family 
of England. But this was not all; they emphasized that attach- 
ment by calling nearly every street in the original survey of the 
town after some member of the royal family or of some country to 
which English royality was closely allied. Sophia street was named 
for the sister of George II ; Caroline for his wife ; Princess Anne for 
one of his daughters,' and Prince Edward for his grandson. The 
cross streets were named. Princess Elizabeth for a daughter of 
George II; Frederick for his oldest son; William for his second 
son, and Apielia for a daughter. George was named for the King 
himself; Charlotte for the wife of George III; Hanover for the 
House of Hanover, and Prussia for the country of Prussia. This 
includes every street in the original survey except Charles and 
Wolfe. We do not know for whom these two streets were named, 

[37] 



38 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

and we think the evidence is very clear that they were not laid out 
as streets at the time of the original survey. 

The act of the House of Burgesses, establishing Fredericksburg, 
in which are preserved as near as possible the form, orthography, 
punctuation and capitalization, is as follows : 

I. "UQiereas great Numbers of People have of late seated them- 
selves and their Families upon and near the River Rappahannoch, 
and the Branches thereof above the Falls, and great Quantities of 
Tobacco and other Commodities are every Year brought down to the 
upper Landings upon the said Eiver to be shipped off and trans- 
ported to other Parts of the Country, and it is necessary that the 
poorer Part of the said Inhabitants should be supplied from thence 
mth Goods and Merchandise in return for their Commodities, but 
for Want of some convenient Place, where Traders may cohabit and 
bring their Goods to, such Supplies are not to be had without great 
Disadvantages, and good Houses are greatly wanted on some navi- 
gable Part of said River, near the Falls for the Reception of safe 
keeping of such Commodities as are brought thither and for the 
Entertainment and Sustenance of those who repair thither from 
remote Places with Carriages drawn by Horses and Oxen; and 
forasmuch as the Inhabitants of the County of Spotsylvania have 
made humble Supplication to the General Assembly that a Town 
may be laid out in some convenient Place near the Falls of said 
River, for the cohabitation of such as are minded to reside there 
for the purposes aforesaid, whereby the peopling of that remote 
Part of the county will be encouraged, and Trade and Navigation 
may be increased : 

II. BE it enacted, hy the Lieutenant Govei^nor, Council, and 
Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby en- 
acted, hy the Authority of the same, that within six Months after 
the passing of this Act fifty Acres of Land, Parcel of a Tract of 
Land belonging to John Royston and Robert Buclcner, of the 
County of Gloucester, situate, lying and being upon the South Side 
of the River Rappahannock aforesaid in the County of Spotsylvania 
commonly called or known by the Name of the Lease Land, shall be 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 39 

surveyed and laid out, taking the whole Breadth of the Tract of 
Land upon the Eiver^ by the Surveyor of the said County of 
Spotsylvania; and the said fifty Acres of Land, so to be surveyed 
and laid out, shall be and is hereby vested in John Robinson, Esq; 
Ilenry Willis, Augustin Smith, John Taliaferro, Harry Beverley, 
John Waller, and Jeremiah Cloivder, of the County of Spotsyl- 
vania,' Gentlemen, and their Successors, in Trust, for the several 
purposes hereafter mentioned; and the said John Robinson, Henry 
Willis, Augustin Smith, John Taliaferro, Harry Beverley, John 
Waller and Jeremiah Clowder, are hereby constituted and ap- 
pointed Directors and Trustees for designing, building, carrying on, 
and maintaining, a Town upon the said Land: And the said 
Directors and Trustees, or any four of them, shall have power to 
meet as often as they shall think necessary, and shall lay out the 
said fifty Acres in Lots and Streets, not exceeding Half an Acre 
of Ground in each Lot, and also to set apart such Portions of said 
Land for a Church and Church- Yard, a Market Place, and publick 
Key, and to appoint such Places upon the River for publick Land- 
ings, as they shall think most convenient, and, if the same shall be 
necessary, shall direct the making and erecting of Wharfs and 
Cranes at such publick Landings, for the publick Use. And when 
the said Town shall be so laid out the said Directors and Trustees 
shall have full Power and Authority to sell all the said Lots by 
publick Sale or Auction, from Time to Time, to the highest Bidder, 
so as no Person shall have more than Two Lots ; and when such Lots 
shall be sold, any two of the said Trustees shall and may, upon 
Payment of the Purchase Money, by some sufficient Conveyance or 
Conveyances, Convey the Fee Simple, Estate of such Lot or Lots 
to the Purchaser or Purchasers : And he or they, or his or their 
Heirs and Assigns, respectively, shall and may for ever thereafter 
peaceably and quietly have, hold, possess, and enjoy, the same, freed 
and discharged of and from all Right, Title, Estate, Claim, Interest, 
and Demand whatsoever of the said John Royster and Robert BucTc- 
ner and the Heirs and Assigns of them respectively, and of all Per- 
sons whatsoever claiming by, from, or under them or either of them. 

III. PROVIDED nevertheless, that the said Directors and Trus- 



40 History of Fredericlcshurg, Virginia 

tees shall pay, or cause to be paid, unto the said Joh7i Royston and 
Robert BucJcner, out of the Money to be raised by the Sale of the 
said Lots, as soon as the same shall be by thern received, after the 
Eate of forty Shillings for every Acre of the said fifty Acres of 
Land, according to the Eight which the said John Royston and 
Robert Buchner now respectively have to the same; and the said 
John Royston and Robert Buchner shall also have each of them two 
Lots, which shall be assigned to them by the said Directors and Trus- 
tees, and they shall resjDectively remain seized of such Lots of the 
same Estate whereof they were respectively seized in the said Land 
before the making of this Act. 

IV. AND be it further enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, that 
after the said Lots shall be so laid out and disposed of, as aforesaid, 
the said Directors, or any four of them, shall have full Power and 
Authority to apply all the overplus Money which shall be raised by 
the Sale of the said Lots to such publick Use; for the common 
Benefit of the Inhabitants of the said Town, as to them shall seem 
best. 

V. AND be it further enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, that 
the Grantee or Grantees of every such Lot or Lots, so to be conveyed 
and sold in the said Town, shall, within two Years next after the 
Date of the Conveyance for the same, erect, build, and finish, on 
each Lot so conveyed, one House, of Brick, Stone or Wood well 
framed, of the Dimensions of Twenty Feet square, and nine Feet 
Pitch at the least, or apportionably thereto, if such Grantee shall 
have two Lots contiguous; and the said Directors shall have full 
Power and Authority to establish such Eules and Orders, for the 
more regular placing the said Houses, as to them shall seem fit, 
from Time to Time. And if the Owner of any Lots shall fail to 
pursue and comply with the Directions herein prescribed, for the 
building and finishing one or more House or Houses thereon, then 
such Lots upon which such Houses shall not be so built and 
finished sliall be revested in the said Trustees, and shall and may 
be sold and conveyed to any other Person or Persons whatsoever, 
in the Manner before directed, and shall revest, and be again sold, 
as often as the Owner or Owners shall fail to perform, obey, and 



History of FredGricksburg , Virginia 41 

fulfil, the Directions aforesaid; and if the Inhabitants of the said 
Town shall fail to obey and pursue the Eules and Orders of the 
said Directors, in repairing and amending the Streets, Landings, 
and publick Wharfs, they shall be liable to the same Penalties as 
are inflicted for not repairing the Highways of this Colony. 

VI. AND for the continuing the Succession of the said Trustees 
and Directors, until the Governour of this Colony shall incorporate 
some other Persons by Letters Patents, under the Seal of this Col- 
ony, to be one Body Politick and Corporate, to whom the Govern- 
ment of the said Town shall be committed, Be it further enacted^ 
that in Case of the Death of the said Directors, or of their Eefusal 
to act, the surviving or other Directors, or the major Part of them, 
shall assemble, and are hereby Empowered, from Time to Time, 
by Instrument in Writing, under their respective Hands and Seals, 
to nominate some other Person or Persons, being an Inhabitant or 
Freeholder of the said Town, in the Place of him so dying or refus- 
ing ; which new Director or Directors, so nominated and appointed, 
shall from thenceforth have the like Power and Authority, in all 
Things relating to the Matters herein contained, as if he or they had 
been expressly named and appointed in and by this Act, and every 
such Instrument and Nomination shall from Time to Time be re- 
corded in the Books of the said Directors. 

VII. AND whereas William Livingston is possessed of a Lease 
under the said John Royston, for certain Years to come, of Part 
of the said fifty Acres of Land, and hath erected buildings and 
made several Improvements thereon, which will be taken away 
when the said Town shall be laid out: For making Satisfaction 
for which, 

VIII. BE it further enacted, that the two Lots to be assigned to 
the said John Royston, pursuant to this Act, shall include the 
Dwelling-House and Kitchen of the said William Livingston, and 
shall be held and enjoyed by him for the Eesidue of the said 
Term, and at the Expiration thereof shall revert unto, and be 
vested in, the said John Royston, as aforesaid; and, moreover, the 
said Trustees are hereby enjoined and required to pay unto the said 
William Livingston the Sum of twenty Pounds current Money out 



43 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

of the Monies arising by Sale of Lots, as a Consideration and Com- 
pensation for the said Lease. 

IX. AND be it further enacted, that the Town aforesaid shall be 
called by the Name of FredericJcshurg. 

This act of incorporation which elevated the Lease Land into the 
town of Fredericksburg, was signed by William Gooch, Esq., Gov- 
ernor, and John Holliday, Speaker. 

By the authority conferred upon the trustees of the town by the 
■sixth section of the above act, the following paper was issued by 
the board of trustees, appointing Augustine Washington, the father 
of General George Washington, one of the trustees of the town. 
The original was presented to the town some years ago by one of the 
•descendants of Augustine Washington, and is now preserved in the 
clerk's office : 

"Whereas, at a meeting of the Trustees of the town of Fredericks- 
burg, April 6th 1742, according to directions of act of Assembly, 
Intitled an Act for erecting a Town in both of the counties of 
Spotsylvania and King George, To Supply the number of Trustees 
in the Eoom of those Gentlemen deceased, we have Unanimously 
made Choise of, and Elected, Augustine Washington, Gent., to be 
one of the Trustees or Feoffees for the town of Fredericksburg, in 
Spotsylvania county to fill up and compleat our full number and 
for confirming of the same We have according to Directions of the 
8d Act, set our hands and seals, this 20th day of April, 1742. 

John Taliaferro, John Allen, 

John Waller, Eob Jackson. 

Ira Thornton, 

In the year 1732 the seat of justice, which had been located at 
Germanna, where Governor Spotswood had settled, and where he 
•started and operated the first iron works in this country, heretofore 
mentioned, was removed to Fredericksburg as a more convenient 
place. That change did not continue long, for, in 1749, the law 
was again changed and the court was moved back to Germanna, 
where it was held for several years, and until it was located at 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 43 

Holidays, thence to the old Courthouse and finally to Spotsylvania 
■Courthouse, where it was held until abolished by the new Consti- 
tution. 

In 1732, five years after the town was established by law. Col. 
Eyrd, then living on the James river, where Eichmond now stands, 
made a visit to Fredericksburg. This visit was made at the time he 
made his trip to Germanna to see his old friend Governor Spots- 
wood. While here Col. Byrd wrote a description of the new town 
to a friend as he saw it, as follows : 

"Colonel Willis walked me about his new town of Fredericksburg. 
It is pleasantly situated on the south shore of the Eappahannock 
river, about a mile below the falls. Sloops may come and lie close 
to the wharf, within thirty yards of the public warehouse which is 
built in the figure of a cross. Just by the wharf is a quarry of 
white stone that is very soft in the ground, and hardens in the air, 
appearing to be as fair and fine grained as that of Portland. Be- 
sides that, there are several other quarries in the river bank, within 
the limits of the toAvn, sufficient to build a large city. The only 
edifice of stone yet built is the prison, the walls of which are strong 
enough to hold Jack Sheppard, if he had been transported thither. 
Though this be a commodious and beautiful situation for a town, 
with the advantages of a navigable river, and wholesome air, yet 
the inhabitants are very few. Besides Colonel Willis, who is the 
top man of the place, there are only one merchant, a tailor, a smith, 
•an ordinary-keeper, and a lady, Mrs. Livingston, who acts here in 
the double capacity of a doctress and a coffee-woman. It is said the 
courthouse and the church are going to be built here, and then both 
religion and justice will help to enlarge the place." 

The church spoken of was built soon after Col. Byrd's visit. It 
was located on the lot where St. George's church building now 
stands. It was a wooden structure, about thirty by forty feet, to 
which two additions were made as the town increased in population. 
The first addition was made to the side of the church, which gave 
the building the shape of a capital T, and the second one was made 
a few years afterwards on the opposite side, giving the building the 
form of a cross. 



44 History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 

The first rector of the new church was Eev. Patrick Henry, uncle 
of the great Virginia orator, Patrick Henry. Mr. Henry remained 
rector for a short time, and was followed, in 1734, by Eev. James 
Marye, of Goochland county, who was the great great grandfather of 
our late honored fellow citizen. Gov. John L. Marye. Mr. Marye 
had charge of two churches within the parish, one located on the Po 
river and the other at Fredericksburg. His salary for the first year 
for the entire parish was discharged with sixteen thousand pounds 
of "farm tobacco." St. George's church is noticed more at length 
under the head of churches. 

CATTLE AND MERCHANDISE FAIRS. 

In the year 1738 a law was passed by the House of Burgesses 
authorizing and directing that "fairs should be held in Fredericks- 
burg twice a year for the sale of cattle, provisions, goods, wares, and 
all kinds of merchandise whatever." The act provided that all 
persons at such fairs, going to or from them, were privileged from 
arrest and execution during the fairs, and for two days before and 
two days after them, except for capital offences, breaches of the 
peace, or for any controversies, suits and quarrels that might arise 
during the time. These fairs were continued from time to time, 
by various acts and amendments, until 1769, when the right of 
holding them was made perpetual, they having proved a benefit to 
both town and county. We have no record as to when they ceased 
to be held and no citizen now living remembers to have attended 
one. They may have been changed into agricultural fairs, which 
are mentioned elsewhere. 

ANOTHER SURVEY OF THE T0V7N. 

In March, 1739, the trustees of the town found it necessary to 
have another survey and plat of Fredericksburg made. This work 
was done by William Waller, Surveyor of Spotsylvania county. 
By this new survey it appears that the lots and buildings of the 
town had not only occupied the original fifty acres, but had also en- 
croached upon the lands of Henry Willis and John Lewis; and, 
as this gave rise to controversies and threatened law suits, the Lieu- 



History of Fredericlshurg, Virginia 45 

-tenant-Governor, Council and Burgesses of the General Assembly 
passed an act in May, 1742, which was declared to be "for removing 
all doubts and controversies," and which declared that these lands, 
belonging to the estate of Henry Willis and John Lewis, should 
be held and taken to be part of Fredericksburg and vested in the 
trustees, and purchasers claiming under them; provided, that the 
trustees should pay to the executors of Henry Willis five pounds, 
and to John Lewis fifteen pounds. The area of the town, as ascer- 
tained by this survey, was not quite fifty-three acres. 

The irregularity of the buildings having necessitated an enlarge- 
ment of the original fifty acres, the style of buildings must have 
■caused serious apprehensions of danger from fire, as we find that, 
in 1743, it was represented to the General Assembly that the 
people were often in great and imminent danger of having their 
houses and effects burned by reason of the many wooden chimneys 
in the town, and, therefore, it was made unlawful to build any 
wooden chimneys in the town thereafter, and unlawful, after the 
expiration of three years, to use any wooden chimney already built ; 
and, in case the owners did not, within three years, pull down and 
destroy these wooden chimneys, the sheriff was authorized to do so, 
at the expense of the owners thereof. 



CHAPTER IV 

Encouraging Home Industries — Further Extension of the Town — 
Tobacco Inspectors — Modes of Punishment — Prosperity — Mili- 
tary Ardor — Under the United States. 

In 1759 an act was passed by the General Assembly to encourage 
the "Arts and Maniifactures in the Colony," but wine and silk 
making seemed to have predominated all others, wine having the 
decided preference as will readily be seen. In the act it was set 
forth that five hundred pounds should be paid as a premiun to 
the person who should, in any one year, within eight years from 
the date of its passage, make the best wine in quantity not less than 
ten hogsheads, and one hundred pounds should be paid to the per- 
son making the second best. It was provided that the money for 
these premiums should be raised by the annual subscriptions of 
public-spirited gentlemen who Avere willing to encourage the under- 
taking; and it was further provided that, if the subscriptions would 
justify it, a handsome premium should be given for silk making. 
It was also stipulated that if there was an "overplus of money,'^ 
after the premiums on wine and silk making were provided for, it 
was to "be given for the encouragement of such other articles as 
should appear to the committee most advantageous to the colony." 
Among those who contributed the first year for this purpose, who 
were then, or had been, citizens of Fredericksburg, were the fol- 
lowing gentlemen who subscribed two pounds each: Eobert Car- 
ter, Pressley Thornton, George Washington, James Mercer, William 
Bernard, David Ker, Philip Eootes, Thomas Reade Rootes, Alexan- 
der Ross, John Champ. 

FUETHER EXTENSION OF THE TOWN. 

In 1763 an act was passed by the General Assembly extending 
the corporate limits of the town, but to what extent we do not know, 
as we have been unable to find the act or any of its provisions. 

[4i] 



History of Fredericksburg^ Virginia 47 

KEGULATING TOBACCO INSPECTOKS. 

In 1764 the General Assembly passed an act for "Amending the 
Staple of Tobacco and for Preventing Frauds in his Majesty's Cus- 
toms." It was a very lengthy bill, having seventy-seven sections, 
ten more than any other act ever before passed by that body, and 
severe penalties were prescribed for its violation. The bill was 
necessarily long and severe penalties were prescribed because it had 
reference to the raising, curing, packing and sale of tobacco, which 
was one of the principal products of Virginia, and the duties and 
responsibilities of tobacco inspectors and their proper management 
of tobacco warehouses. Besides tobacco being one of the important 
crops raised in the colony, if not the most important one, large 
quantities of it were shipped to the old country and sold for good 
prices. In addition to this, tobacco was used in the colony as a sub- 
stitute for money, as all debts between private individuals, as well 
as those due the colony, were paid in tobacco. The bill provided 
for public warehouses, for the proper inspection of tobacco and for 
public inspectors, appointed by the Governor and his Council, not 
less than two at each warehouse, who, besides taking an oath of 
office, were placed under heavy bonds with security, the penalty 
being five hundred pounds sterling for the faithful performance 
of their duties. One of these public warehouses was located in Fred- 
ericksburg, and may have been the old stone house on Water street, 
just below the free bridge. The oath required to be taken by these 
public inspectors was as follows : 

"You shall swear that you will diligently and carefully view and 
examine all tobacco brought to any public warehouse or warehouses 
where you are appointed to be inspector, and that not separately 
and apart from your fellow, but in his presence ; and that you will 
not receive any tobacco that is not in your judgment sound, welt 
conditioned, merchantable and clear of trash, nor receive, pass or 
stamp any tobacco, hogshead or cask of tobacco, prohibited by one 
act of Assembly, entitled an act for amending the sample of tobacco, 
and preventing frauds in his Majesty's customs ; and that you will 
not change, alter or give out any tobacco, other than such hogs- 



48 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

heads or casks for which the receipt to be taken was given ; but that 
you will in all things well and faithfully discharge your duty in the 
office of inspector, according to the best of your skill and judgment 
and according to the directions of said act, without fear, favor, 
affection, malice or partiality. So help me God." 

The receipts given by the inspectors of the public warehouse in 
Fredericksburg, according to the provisions of the act, were to pass 
and be current in the town and county of Spotsylvania for the pay- 
ment of all quit-rents, county and town levies and for officers' fees. 
As this provision of law made them current for public dues, the 
public also adopted them as currency and they were used for the 
payment of all obligations. These receipts were protected by severe 
penalties against counterfeiting and forgery, and each one repre- 
sented so many hundred pounds of tobacco deposited at the public 
warehouse. 

MILITARY ARDOR OF THE TOW^N". 

Fredericksburg continued to grow in population and material 
prosperity, and also improve in the intelligence and public spirit of 
its inhabitants, until the year 1775, when the affairs between Great 
Britain and the American Colonies were verging to a crisis. Her 
leading citizens were among the very first in Virginia to adopt the 
principle that the American Colonies ought not only to be exempt 
from taxation by the Mother Country, but should be free and inde- 
pendent States. Tbe battle of Lexington was fought on the 19th 
day of April, 1775, and on the 20th, the following day. Lord Dun- 
more secretly removed twenty barrels of gunpowder from the public 
magazine in Williamsburg to the Magdalen Man-of-war, which 
anchored off Yorktown. When the news of the battle of Lexington, 
and of the removal of the powder, reached Fredericksburg, great 
excitement prevailed. Over six hundred men armed themselves, 
from the town and surrounding country, assembled at the Court- 
house in -town and offered their services to George Washington, 
■who was then in Williamsburg, to defend that city from Lord 
Dunmore's threatened attack, and the country from his tyranny. 

After assembling they dispatched delegates to Eichmond and 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 49 

Williamsburg to ascertain the condition of affairs and to what point 
they should report for duty. In the meantime, those ardent pa- 
triots, G-eorge Washington, Peyton Eandolph and Edmund Pendle- 
ton, transmitted their advice to the people of Fredericksburg, and 
especially those who had formed the military organization, to 
abstain for the present from hostilities until a congress, then called 
or soon to be called, should decide upon a general plan of resistance. 

On the receipt of this advice, these patriots held a council, consist- 
ing of more than one hundred men, representing fourteen companies, 
who, by a majority of one vote, decided to disperse for the present 
They were burning with indignation at the murderous attack made 
upon their brethren of Lexington, Mass., by the armed soldiers of 
Great Britian, and the unlawful arrests, and retention as prisoners, 
of some of the leading citizens of Massachusetts by British military 
oflScers. And this feeling of indignation was intensified when they 
saw that this outrage was followed the next day by another per- 
petrated in their own colony and by their own Governor ; and when 
he threatened to return from Yorktown, whither he had fled for 
safety, and attack Williamsburg with a man-of-war they were con- 
vinced that the enemies of the Patriots, the British and Tories, 
understood each other and were acting in concert. Yet, upon 
the advice of those whose lead they were willing to follow, and 
whose commands they were ready to obey, they agreed to disband 
for the present. Before dispersing, however, they drafted an ad- 
dress, which was tantamount to a declaration of independence, in 
which they firmly resolved to resist all attempts against their rights 
and privileges, from whatever quarter they might be assailed. 

They went further than to just pass resolutions; they pledged 
themselves, solemnly and firmly one to the other, to be in readiness, 
at a moment's warning, to reassemble, and, by force of arms, to de- 
fend the laws, liberties and the rights of this or any sister colony, 
from unjust and wicked invasions. They then sent dispatches to 
patriots assembled in Caroline, Berkeley, Frederick and Dunmore 
counties, thanking them for their offer of service and acquainting 
them with the condition of public affairs and their determination to 
be ready at a moment's notice to respond to any call that might 
4 



50 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

be made by the patriotic leaders, who were then holding a council 
in Williamsburg. The resolutions and pledges were read at the 
head of each company of patriots encamped at Fredericksburg, 
and unanimously approved and adopted. The address concluded 
with the impressive words, "God, save the liberties of America," 
which were a substitute for the off-repeated words, "God, save the 
King." 

These resolutions were passed twenty-one days before the cele- 
brated Mecklenburg resolutions in North Carolina were, and more 
than a year before the Declaration of Independence by the Ameri- 
can Congress, which showed the intense patriotic fervor of the people 
of Fredericksburg at that early period, many of whom bore a heroic 
part in the subsequent struggle of the Seven Years' war that fol- 
lowed. Among the number assembled with these lovers of liberty, 
and most prominent, were Gen. Geo. Weedon, who served on Gen. 
Washington's staff, commanded with distinction a division at the 
surrender of Yorktown, and afterwards for several terms served as 
mayor of the town; Gen. Hugh Mercer, who rose to the rank of 
Major-General and was killed at Princeton, New Jersey, on January 
3, 1777, and Gen. Gustavus B, Wallace, who served gallantly 
through the war, attaining to the rank of Brigadier-General. 

FREDERICKSBURG UNDER THE UNITED STATES. 

The long tobacco act of the House of Burgesses was the last act 
passed by that body that affected the commercial interest of the 
town or the agricultural interest of the surrounding country that 
we have any knowledge of. The Eevolutionary war soon followed 
and our independence and new government was the result. It isi 
not considered necessary in this work to attempt to give the part 
Fredericksburg bore in that struggle — the generals she furnished to 
command the armies and navy of the country, the line officers and 
soldiers she sent forth to meet and repel the invader, the statesmen 
she gave to provide for the armies or to form the new government 
and to guide it to a successful, permanent and solid establishment. 
All of these things are told by the records and histories of the State 
and country more accurately and in a more pleasing style than we 
can narrate them. We therefore pass to the new order of things. 



History of FredericJishurg, Virginia 51 

FKEDERICESBUEG IN THE EEPUBLIC. 

The first act of the Legislature of Virginia in reference to Fred- 
ericksburg, after the establishment of the young republic, was to 
grant it a charter, which bill was passed in 1781. It provided for 
the town a Mayor, Eeeorder, Board of Aldermen and a Common 
Council, and required that all of them should be freeholders. They 
were made a body politic by the name and designation of Mayor 
and Commonalty of the town of Fredericksburg, and by that title 
were to have perpetual succession. The Mayor, Eeeorder and the four 
Aldermen were ex-officio Justices of the Peace, and had power to 
hold a court of hustings once a month, and to "hold pleas in all 
eases whatsoever originating Avithin the limits" of the town and to 
^low water mark on the northwest side of the Rappahannock river 
and half a mile without and around the other limits of the said 
town." They were given the sole authority and power of "licensing 
tavern keepers and settling their rates," to appoint a sergeant with 
the powers of sheriffs, a "constable and other necessary officers of 
court and surveyors of the streets and highways." A surveyor of the 
streets was appointed at the first hustings court held by the Mayor 
and his fellow magistrates, but he was known as the "Geographer" 
of the town for more than half a century, and was often so entered 
upon the court records. 

In civil cases the hustings court was not to have jurisdiction 
where the amount in controversy exceeded one thousand pounds of 
leaf tobacco, or its value in money, unless both parties to the suit 
were citizens of the town when the suit was instituted. 

The corporate authorities were authorized to assess the inhabi- 
tants and all property within the actual bounds of the town for all 
the charges of repairing the streets, and other matters of muni- 
cipal expense. They were empowered to erect workhouses, houses 
of correction, prisons and other public buildings, and to pass all 
necessary ordinances for the good government of the town. They 
were to have two market days in each week, and appoint a clerk of 
the market, "who shall have assize of bread, wine, wood and other 
things," and perform all the duties of Clerk of the Market. The 



52 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

market days were fixed by law on "Wednesdays and Saturdays. It 
was also provided in the charter that if any person elected to an 
office failed or refused to serve, he was to be fined. The fines were 
regulated as follows : "For a Mayor-elect, fifty pounds ; for the Ee- 
corder, forty pounds; for any Alderman, thirty pounds; for any 
Common Councilman, twenty-five pounds; for the City Sergeant, 
one hundred pounds ; for the Constable, fifty pounds ; for the Clerk 
of the Hustings Court and the Clerk of the Market, each fifty 
pounds; the Surveyor of Streets or Eoads, each thirty pounds." 
These several fines were to be imposed by the hustings court., and "to 
be levied by execution against the goodB and chattles; of the offender." 

The charter also provided that in case of "misconduct in the office 
of Mayor, Eecorder, Aldermen or Common Councilmen, or either 
of them, the others, being seven at least, shall have power to remove 
the offenders," and in case the other officers were guilty of mis- 
conduct, the power appointing them was clothed with the authority 
of revoking the appointment. It was provided that if the office 
of Mayor should become vacant, the Eecorder was to succeed to the 
office, the oldest Alderman was to become Eecorder, and "so on 
according to priority." 

It was further provided "that all the property, real and personal, 
now held and possessed by the trustees of the said town of Freder- 
icksburg, in law or equity, or in trust, for the use and benefit of the 
inhabitants thereof, and particularly the charity donation of Archi- 
bald McPherson, deceased, now vested in the trustees of said town 
in trust, for the education of poor children, shall be and the same 
are hereby transferred and vested in the Mayor and Commonalty of 
said town, to and for the same uses, intents and purposes as the 
trustees of the town now hold the same." 

At the session of the Legislature in 1782 the charter of the town 
was amended and the jurisdiction of the hustings court was extended 
one mile without and around the former limits of the town on the 
south side of the Eappahannock river, and made a court of record 
and as such was authorized to receive probate of wills and deeds 
and grant administrations in as full and ample manner as the 
county courts could or might do. But no will was to be admitted 




"Rising Sun Tavern," kept by Gen. Geo. Weedon prior to 1775; 
now the property of the A. P. of V. A. 

(See page 148) 




Mary Washington Monument, erected by the Women of America; 

Wm. J. Crawford, architect. 

(See page 157) 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 53 

to proof and no administration was to be granted unless the parties 
were citizens and residents of the town at the time of their death, 
and no deeds for conveyance of land were to be admitted to record 
unless the lands conveyed lay within the limits of the corporation. 
The court was empowered and authorized to appoint a person 
skilled in the law to prosecute for the Commonwealth and pay him 
a reasonable salary for his services, and when the Attorney for the 
Commonwealth was appointed for the town, it was to be exempt 
from paying any part of the salary of the Attorney for the Com- 
monwealth of Spotsylvania county. 

RAPID GROWTH OF THE TOV^N. 

On the petition of sixty-four of the leading citizens of the 
town, property owners and tax payers, complaining that 
certain provisions and requirements of the original charter of the 
town, granted in 1727, had not been enforced by the Council and 
complied with by lot owners, the Common Council, in 1782, passed 
an order which resulted in great benefit to the town in the way 
of improving vacant lots, erecting buildings and furnishing per- 
manent homes for artisans, mechanics and laboring men. In the 
memorial submitted to the Council, these property owners com- 
plained of "being frequently subjected to the payment of many 
heavy Taxes and charges for the general benefit and improvement 
of the said Town of which many proprietors of unimproved Lotts 
pay no part, although their property is thereby daily rendered more 
valuable; That the proprietors of said Lotts, although wealthy, 
will neither build on them, nor sell to those who would, unless for 
exorbitant prices, by means whereof Eents are high and many use- 
ful tradesmen are prevented from residing in the said Town, to 
remedy which your petitioners pray that you, as Guardians of the 
said Corporation, will take into your consideration an Act of Assem- 
bly, passed in the year of our Lord One thousand, seven hundred 
and twenty seven, entitled an Act for erecting a Town in each of 
the counties of Spotsylvania and King George* or so much of the 



♦ The town referred to In the county of King George is the town of Fal- 
mouth, on the opposite side of the river, and a mile and a half ahove Fred- 
ericksburg. The act that made Fredericksburg a town also gave Falmouth a 
legal existence. At the time of the passage of the act that territory belonged 
to King George county, but now. to Stafford county. 



54 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

said Act as may relate to the said Town of Fredericksburg. A due 
execution of said Law, your petitioners Conceive, will be productive 
of many real and very essential advantages to the said corporation ; 
by encouraging the peopling of it and increasing its Trade and 
Navigation. Your petitioners do not wish that any immediate 
advantage may be taken* of failures or defaults already heretofore 
suffered, by noncompliance with the above mentioned Act, but that 
Public notice may be given to the proprietors of such unimproved 
Lotts that a strict execution of the above mentioned Act of Assem- 
bly will be observed with all such as shall, in future, fail to perform, 
fulfil and comply with the rules and directions therein set forth.'^ 

In consideration of the complaints of these citizens and the wise 
suggestions made in their communication, as well as the require- 
ments of the act referred to, the Council ordered ''that notice be 
given to the Proprietors of unimproved Lotts within this corpora- 
tion, by advertisement in the Public News Papers, that they im- 
mediately pay up the Taxes due on said Lotts within this Town 
and that they be informed that they must build on their unim- 
proved Lotts, agreeable to the Act of Assembly, passed in One 
thousand seven hundred and Twenty-seven, for establishing a Town 
in the County of Spotsylvania, otherwise the Lotts will be sold 
agreeble to the said Act." 

In consequence of the enforcement of this order of the Common 
Council, both the taxable values, and the inhabitants of the town, 
increased rapidly. Instead of an empty treasury, as the town then 
had, and the necessity it found itself under of appealing to the 
public for subscriptions for money with which to repair and enlarge 
the church, to repair the market house, the courthouse and jail, 
so they could be used, the town soon had money for ordinary pur- 
poses, and also for repairing the public buildings, many of which 
had been used during the war by the soldiers of General Washing- 
ton's army, leaving a good balance in the treasury, after the work 
was done. Kor was that all; in 1791, under the "Domestic Loan 
Act" of Congress, the town loaned to the general government 
$3,500. This loan was evidenced by four certificates, issued by the 



History of FredericTcshurg, Virginia 55 

*'Loan office" of the Government in Washington and are duly re- 
corded in the record book of the Common Council. 

METHODS OF PUNISHMENT. 

It may be interesting to note that in the olden times there were 
other methods resorted to for punishing criminals besides fines, 
jails and penitentiaries, which are not used in this day and time. 
The Common Council, in 1785, passed a resolution ordering Ser- 
geant John Eichards to "erect immediately a whipping post, stocks 
and ducking stool." The whipping post was used mainly for the 
slaves who were guilty of small infractions of the law, but for 
aggravated offences, the penalty was "thirty-nine lashes on his bare 
back, well laid on," to which was added "burning in the left hand, 
in the presence of the court." The whipping post is said to have 
been used for habitual persistent absence from church, but it was 
very seldom used for that purpose, and never in Fredericksburg so 
far as we have discovered from the records. 

The stocks were used to punish white persons for petty offences, 
such as vagrancy, trespassing and similar infractions of the law. 
The stocks consisted of a frame of timber, with holes in which the 
ankles and wrists of the offenders were confined. The stocks were 
erected in the public square and it is said the passers-by, and those 
who had gathered around them, through curiosity, would taunt 
and jeer at the criminals thus confined for punishment. 

The ducking stool was used for punishing common scolds, re- 
fractory women and dishonest tradesmen, especially brewers and 
bakers. The ducking stool for Fredericksburg was erected on the 
bank of the Eappahannock river, at the foot of Wolfe street, near 
where the old Stafford bridge spanned the river. There are several 
of our old citizens now living who remember when it was in use, 
and when it was dispensed with, nearly' seventy years ago. A 
''ducking" ahvays brought together a large crowd, most of whom 
were rude and disorderly, and jeers at and ridicule of the party 
"ducked" would rend the air, while the sentence of the court was 
being carried out. It is said that some of the "scolding women," 
as they would emerge from the water would send forth volumes of 



56 History of Fred&ricksburg , Virginia 

abuse at the disorderly crowd, while the officer waited for the next 
bath, and this was kept up until the order of the court was fully 
executed. It seemed to be the wish of the authorities that the whole 
population would turn out and witness these different modes of 
punishment, with the hope that it would deter others from com- 
mitting similar offences. 



CHAPTEE V 

The Lease of the Marhet-House Lots — The First Serious Fire — 
FredericTcsljurg an Important Center — An Act Concerning 
Elections — Half of the Town Destroyed hy Fire — Frederichs- 
biirg an Important Postal Point — How the Mails were Carried 
— A Congressional Investigation — Amendatory Act of 1821 — 
The Great Fire of 1822— The Trade of the Town— Conta- 
gious Diseases — The Tov;n in 1841 — Acts of Extension, 1851, 
1852, 1858, 1861, &c. 

In the year 1789 an enactment was passed by the Legislature em- 
powering the Mayor and Commonalty of the town of Fredericks- 
burg to lease for three lives, or twenty-one years, such unimproved 
parts of the market-house lots as to them shall seem most proper, 
and apply the rents arising therefrom for the benefit of the cor- 
poration. In the same year an act was passed authorizing the 
Trustees of the Fredericksburg Academy to raise, by way of lottery, 
the sum of four thousand pounds to defray the expenses of erecting 
a building on the academy lands for the purpose of accommodating 
the professors and the rapidly increasing number of students. We 
could not learn the result of this latter scheme. 

THE FIRST SERIOUS FIRE. 

In 1799 the first serious fire the town ever had occurred. It 
took place in the night time and quite a number of houses were de- 
stroyed. By many persons it was supposed to have been the work 
of an incendiary, but others believed that it was caused by a 
"wooden chimney or a stove pipe, run through a window or through 
the side of a wooden house, without being properly protected." The 
Council decided to meet both views, and offered five hundred dollars 
for the arrest and conviction of the incendiary, and issued an em- 
phatic condemnation against wooden chimneys and stove pipes 
projecting through windows or the sides of houses without having 
them "fire proof." This nuisance was thereby abated. 

[57 ] 



58 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

PEEDERICKSBUEG AN" IMPORTANT CENTER. 

As early as 1796 Fredericksburg was an important commercial 
•center, and manufactories of various kinds were in operation. 
Iron works and mills and other industries were successfully prose- 
•cuted, and the trade of the town, in the general merchandise 
department, was in the hands of public-spirited, energetic mer- 
chants ; and it would no doubt surprise the merchants of the pres- 
ent day to read the advertisements and note the extent and variety 
of stocks of goods kept here at that period. The growth and 
•development of the trade was gradual and decided in all depart- 
ments, the leading article being tobacco, which up to and during the 
"War of 1813 and 1814, was increased heavily and necessitated the 
employment of vessels of great tonnage to carry it. And, though 
■strange as it may appear to our present population, in those days of 
prosperity in manufactories, farms and workshops, and when nearly 
all merchandise and supplies reached our town in said vessels, large 
three-masted ships were moored at our wharves; and, until large 
•cities sprang up along the coast, that diverted trade by reason of 
railroad transportation, our leading merchants carried on a direct 
trade with the West India Islands, as well as with many of the 
European coantries. Our wharves then were a scene of busy 
activity and the river was crowded with vessels from all quarters of 
the country. 

AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTIONS. 

In 1806 an act of the Legislature was passed providing that on 
the next annual election day for members of the "Common Hall 
of the Town," which term was used to denote the Common Council, 
a Mayor and Recorder and eight persons should be elected by ballot 
to act as Justices of the Peace for the town, who should "continue 
in office during good behavior." Three of these justices were em- 
powered to hold a hustings court, except in cases of the examina- 
tion or trial of free persons or slaves charged with felonies, in which 
case five of the eight justices were necessary to constitute the court. 
This court had the same power and jurisdiction that the hustings 
-court had under the act of 1781, but the members were ineligible 



History of Fredericl'shurg, Virginia 59 

for the Common Council and they had no power to lay a tax for the 
support of a night watch. 

At this election the voters were also to elect by ballot twelve per- 
sons as members of the Common Council of the town, who were to 
continue in office for one year and until their successors should be 
elected and qualified. The powers of the Common Council should 
be the same as had been previously conferred upon the Mayor, Ee- 
corder, Aldermen and Common Council of the town "in Common 
Hall assembled." The Common Council, at their first meeting, 
were to elect one of their number to the office of Mayor and another 
to the office of Eecorder. It was the duty of the Mayor to preside 
over the deliberations of the body, and, in his absence, the Eecorder 
was to discharge that duty. The Mayor, or in his absence, the 
Eecorder, or any two members of the Council, could call a meeting 
of the body, but it required seven members present to constitute a 
quorum. After the Council assembled in the first meeting after the 
election of the members, and elected the proper officers, the body 
then consisting of the Mayor, Eecorder and the other ten members 
elected as common councilmen, constituted the "Common Hall" 
of the town, and all ordinances were adopted by that body. 

HALF OP THE TOWN" DESTROYED BY FIRE. 

In the year 1807 Fredericksburg was visited by a terrible con- 
flagration which destroyed nearly one-half of the town. It was in 
October of that year, when the town was almost depopulated, the 
citizens, old and young, having left their homes to attend and wit- 
ness the horse racing just below town, on "Willis's Field" farm. 
The fire broke out in the dwelling house of Mr. Stannard, which 
was located on the lot where the residence of Mr. George W. Shep- 
herd now stands, on the north corner of Princess Ann and Lewis 
streets. A high wind prevailed at the time, the house was inflam- 
mable, the weather very dry, and in a short time the fire swept down 
Main street, the fiames leaping from house to house to Henderson's 
store, on the south corner of Main and Amelia streets ; thence down 
both sides of Main to George street, destroying every building in 
its track except Henderson's corner, which alone escaped destruc- 



60 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

tion. The Bank of Virginia, which stood on the spot where Shilob 
Baptist church (old site) now stands, on Water street, although 
more than a quarter of a mile from where the fire originated, was 
the second house to take fire and was entirely consumed. Mr. Stan- 
nard, at whose residence the fire started, was lying a corpse in the 
house at the time of the fire, and his remains were rescued from the 
flames with great difficulty. 

Preparations to rebuild the burnt district were at once com- 
menced, and buildings of a more substantial character took the 
places of those destroyed and prosperity again smiled upon the 
town. Yet strange to say the square on the west side of Main 
street, from Lewis to Amelia, then in the business part of the town, 
and now in the residential part, although before the fire was lined 
with buildings, was without a building until some five years ago. 
A tool chest, saved from destruction in this fire, by the debris of 
the building falling upon it and covering it up, and which escaped 
the destruction wrought in town by the Federal soldiers in Decem- 
ber, 1862, is now in the possession of Police Ofiicer Charles A. Gore. 
It was the property of his grandfather, Jacob Gore, who had been 
working at Mr. Stannard's a few days before the fire occurred and 
left it there temporarily. 

FREDEKICKSBUEG AN IMPORTANT POSTAL POINT. 

Fredericksburg, as early as 1820, was a very important point for 
mail distribution, and the mail matter of not less than five States 
was assorted here and sent on to its destination. About the break- 
ing out of the War of 1812 mail matter to Fredericksburg rapidly 
increased, and continued to increase, for several years, which neces- 
sitated a change in the method of transporting the mails from 
Washington, an increase of pay, and finally scandalous reports were 
put in circulation which resulted in a congressional investigation. 

A paper on this investigation, prepared by Henry Castle, Esq.. 
Auditor, from the records in the Postoffice department, and kindly 
furnished us, will prove interesting. 

*'The year 1820 had arrived; James Monroe was President and 



History of Frederickshurg, Virginia 61 

Eeturn J. Meiggs, Jr., of Ohio, was Postmaster Greneral. There 
were then over three thousand post offices, and the revenues had 
increased to $1,000,000 per annum, a sum considerable in excess 
of the expenditures, a feature which seldom characterized the ser- 
vice after that date. It appears from the records that vague 
rumors of certain irregularities had been afloat throughout the coun- 
try and in the 'public prints' for some time, and that they finally 
assumed such a tangible shape that a resolution was introduced into 
the United States Congress providing for an investigation of the 
charges. 

"A committee of the House of Eepresentatives, of which Hon. 
Elisha Phelps was chairman, proceeded in accordance with instruc- 
tions of the House, in due form and great deliberation, to investi- 
gate the general conduct of the office under Postmaster General 
Meiggs, and especially the features which had been subjected to 
more immediate criticism. Mr. Meiggs's service, as Postmaster 
General, extended from March l?th 1814, to June 26th 1823, a 
period of more than nine years. The gravest of the charges made 
against his administration were substantially as follows : 

"First. That he had introduced an irregular financial system 
which had led to serious losses of the public funds. 

"Second. That he had illegally and improperly increased the 
compensation of certain contractors for carrying the mail. 

"With slow formality and tedious reiteration of assurances of dis- 
tinguished consideration, the solemn committee of the Honorable 
House of Eepresentatives, and the Honorable Postmaster General, 
finally reached a point where questions were asked and answered 
and a tolerably clear understanding of what had really occurred 
may be gained. The statement of the Postmaster General, divested 
of all its superfiuities and reduced to its simplest form, showed no 
dereliction in either case, but read at this late day gives an almost 
ludicrous insight into the diminutive transactions which then suf- 
ficed for this great, free and intelligent Eepublic. 

"Postmaster General Meiggs's answer to the second charge was 
perhaps even more interestingly significant as a revelation of the day 
of small things. He admitted that he had increased the compen- 



62 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

sation of contractors for carrying the mails, but justified his action 
on the ground of an imperious necessity. 

"The case as he explained it was this : His predecessor in office 
had about the year 1813, let a contract to certain parties for trans- 
porting mail from the Seat of Government at Washington to Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia, a distance of seventy miles. This great mail 
route, which would now be termed a trunk line, carried substan- 
tially the mail for the five States of Virginia, Tennessee, North 
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The contract provided that 
these mails should be carried by stage coach in summer and, as the 
roads were impassable in winter, they were to be carried on horse- 
back. 

"But," says the Postmaster General, "by the increased popular 
interest in the war of 1812, correspondence was greatly stimulated 
and the circulation of the public journals was enormously increased. 
Consequently, it was found impracticable to transport all this heavy 
mail for five States, on horseback from Washington to Fredericks- 
burg; therefore contractors were authorized to place a sulky, or 
curricle service thereon and the remuneration was increased accord- 
ingly. 

"This explanation was apparently satisfactory to the Honorable 
Committee as it certainly appears very reasonable on its face, and 
will appeal to man's inherent sense of justice, even in this exacting 
era. The final action of Congress is not contained in the records, 
"but it was no doubt exculpatory since, as shown above. Postmaster 
General Meiggs, continued to discharge the duties in his high 
office for several years thereafter." 

AMENDATORY ACT OF 1821. 

Under the previous acts of the Legislature, extending the limits 
of the town and providing for laying out streets, and the amend- 
ments thereto, it was claimed that mistakes had occurred and ir- 
regularities had resulted therefrom. In order to correct these mis- 
takes, and provide for the better government of the town, an 
amendatory act was passed by the Legislature in the year 1821. 
In that act the Common Council was authorized and empowered to 




The St. George's Episcopal Church. 
(See page 203) 




The Presbyterian Memorial Chapel. 
( See page 208; 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 63 

elect the Mayor from their own number or from the body of the 
citizens, and in case he was elected from the Council, thus creating 
a vacancy in that body, it was to be filled by the Council. Under 
this act the Mayor was eligible to reelection from year to year as 
long as the Council was pleased to elect him, was made custodian of 
the corporation seal, and was to keep an office in the town where he 
should transact the public business, and where the citizens could 
call upon him and present any grievance or complaint they might 
have to make. 

When the hustings court was not in session the Mayor was to 
act as a Justice of the Peace and superintend and control the police 
and night watch. He was to qualify in ten days after his election, 
and was to preside at the sittings of the hustings court ; and in his 
absence the Eecorder, upon whom all the powers and authority of 
the Mayor were conferred, was authorized to perform his duties. 
The Common Council had to regulate and fix the salary of the 
Mayor, which could not be increased or diminished during his term 
of office. The same act extended the jurisdiction of the hustings 
court to high water mark on the Staiford side of the Eappahannoek 
river, and exempted the citizens of the town from the assessment 
and payment of all taxes and levies to Spotsylvania county, to 
which they were subject under the former laws. 

By the provisions of the act of 1821 the Common Council was 
authorized to assess and levy a tax on the inhabitants of, and prop- 
erty within, the town for the purpose of repairing and keeping in 
order the streets and alleys and for other purposes and charges as 
to them might seem right and proper, and for the improvement, 
convenience and well being of the town. They were authorized 
to provide a night watch for the protection of the town and for the 
"better execution of this duty the power and authority, now exer- 
cised by field officers of the militia concerning patrols, shall here- 
after be vested in and exercised by the said Mayor, Eecorder and 
Common Council over the militia of the said town," and the militia 
of the town were, by the same act, exempted from patrol duty be- 
yond the city limits. 

In order to correct defects in laying out streets under the former 



64 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

acts, by this act a Commission, consisting of John W. Green, John 
Mundell, Greorge Cox, Silas Wood and David Briggs, was appointed 
to survey and locate the streets of the town according to existing 
laws and authentic ancient surveys. This Commission was to lo- 
cate the streets by metes and bounds, making such alterations as its 
members might think expedient, with the consent of the proprietors 
of lots effected by such alterations, but not otherwise. It was also 
required to mark the boundaries of the streets by stones or otherwise, 
which were to be designated on the map of the town made by it. 
These Commissioners were to report their plan, with explanatory 
notes, to the Common Council, and if approved by that body it 
was to be taken as the authentic plan of the town. 

But in making this survey of the streets it was especially provided 
that if a house should be found, in whole or in part, in the street, 
it was not to be considered a nuisance or an illegal obstruction of 
the street, but if such building should perish, or in any manner be 
destroyed, it was not to be rebuilt so as to encroach upon or obstruct 
the street. 

THE GREAT FIRE OF 1832. 

After the great conflagration of 1807, a regular and decided in- 
crease in population is noted with a marked improvement in local 
trade. So things progressed with no unusual or startling calami- 
ties to disturb the usual serenity of a prosperous town — not bust- 
ling, but active — until the year 1822, when the quiet was disturbed 
by another serious conflagration. It was not as disastrous as its 
predecessor was, but it was of such a character as to cause great 
loss of property, and to retard, to a very great extent, the general 
prosperity of the town. This fire originated at the corner of Main 
and George streets, where Mr. Thomas N". Brent's dry goods store 
now stands, and, curious enough, just where the great fire of 1807 
was checked. It was then known as Wellford's corner, because 
Mr. C. C. Wellford, for a great many years, kept store there. From 
that corner the fire made its way down Main street totally destroy- 
ing every building on that side of the street from there to Hanover 
street, which square was then known as the "Commercial Block," 
i5ecause of the large trade carried on there. 



History of Fredericksburg^ Virginia 65 

"With the energy and enterprise so characteristic of the citizens 
of the town at that day, steps were at once taken to rebuild the 
burnt district. Soon the street was almost blocked up with build- 
ing material, laborers were busily at work, clearing away the debris 
and preparing the foundations for the new buildings. Carpenters 
and brick masons were in great demand and large numbers flocked 
to the town from neighboring cities and villages. That part of 
the town was soon a busy scene and the music of the hammer, the 
saw and the trowel greeted the ear from early morning until late in 
the afternoon. And there were soon erected, with an occasional 
exception, the substantial block of brick buildings which now stand 
as monuments to the good judgment and excellent workmanship of 
that early day. The work of rebuilding was speedy and complete, 
and the character of the new buildings was an improvement upon 
the old ones they replaced. With the rebuilding of that portion 
of the town, and the resumption of business by the burnt-out mer- 
chants, came an unusual degree of prosperity, and for a long period 
the general peace and happiness of the people were undisturbed. 

THE TEADE OF THE TOV^^N. 

At this time the trade of the town was chiefly of a local character, 
except the products of the country extending even beyond the Blue 
Eidge mountains, as from the early years of the town, were brought 
to market in wagons, and it was no uncommon sight to see daily 
as many as fifty or sixty four and six-horse teams here at one time 
from that part of the country. The merchants were men of exalted 
character and fine business capacity, and the amount of business 
transacted was, considering the times and circumstances, simply 
enormous. 

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 

To the credit of the authorities of the town it can be truthfully 
said that, in all the past, they have been very watchful of and solici- 
tous for the health of the people. At all times, upon reports, or 
even rumors, that contagious or infectious diseases were prevailing 
in contiguous communities, they were on the alert, taking every 
precaution to prevent their introduction here, and it may be said to 
6 



66 History of Frederic'ksburg , Virginia 

their credit that such strict observance and enforcement of the laws 
of health, and temporary quarantines at the proper time, have pre- 
vented all kinds of epidemics in the past history of the town. 

Before the first of the nineteenth century, in 1790, the people of 
the town were very much excited about the small pox. It was rag- 
ing in Philadelphia as an epidemic, and the large trade carried on 
between the two places, altogether by water, made it necessary that 
numerous vessels should bear the merchandise. In order to prevent 
the small pox from reaching this place a strict quarantine was estab- 
lished at the mouth of Hazel Eun, just below town, and a hospital 
was located at Sligo. Dr. Brooke and Dr. Ker, two skillful phys- 
cians of the town, agreed to attend the sick at the hospital without 
charge, whether sailors or citizens. The wise precaution taken in 
establishing the quarantine prevented any case from reaching the 
town, to the great relief of the citizens generally. In 1793 the 
same disease broke out in Baltimore and a quarantine was again 
established at Hazel Eun and a hospital at Sligo. The citizens 
were greatly alarmed, fearing its introduction here either by land 
or water. The greatest precautions were taken by the health offi- 
cers, who were nobly assisted by the town authorities, and the 
disease was kept out as it had been two years before, not a single 
case having made its appearance in the place. 

In 1833, it is said by old citizens, a remarkable case of either 
fright or disease occurred in Fredericksburg, which proved fatal. 
In that year several parts of the United States were visited and 
scourged by the Asiatic cholera. The country generally was in 
great terror, and Fredericksburg came in for her share of excite- 
ment. In fact, she may have been more alarmed than other places 
which were as far removed from the seat of the scourge, because of 
a prediction that had previously been made, and which made its 
impression on many people. Eev. Lorenzo Dow, an able, but 
eccentric, itinerant Methodist minister, when on a visit to the 
town the year previous to the scourge, it was reported had pre- 
dicted the appearance of cholera in Fredericksburg. Some people 
believed the disease would come because Mr. Dow had predicted it, 
and the excitement ran high, especially among those who believed 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 67 

the prophecy. A Mr. Shelton became dreadfully alarmed and 
whether from fright or from actually contracting the disease, died 
in the month of June and the cause of his death was pronounced 
sporadic or accidental cholera. His was the only case then, and 
to this day there has been no other, Fredericksburg having enjoyed 
singular and perfect immunity from epidemics of all kinds. 

THE TOWN IN THE YEAR 1841. 

In describing the town in 1841, an intelligent visitor says 
"Fredericksburg is regularly laid out and compactly built; many 
of its buildings are brick. The principal public buildings are a 
courthouse, clerk's office, a jail, a market -house, an orphan asylum, 
one Episcopal, one Presbyterian, one Methodist, one Baptist and 
one Eeform Baptist church. The town also contains two banks 
and one male and one female seminary of the higher class. It is 
supplied with water from the river* by subterraneous pipes and is 
governed by a Mayor and Common Council. A canal, extending 
from the town to Fox's mill, a point on the Eappahannock, thirty- 
five miles above, has been commenced and partly completed. 

"Fredericksburg enjoys considerable trade, cMefly in grain, 
.flour, tobacco, maize, etc., and considerable quantities of gold are 
exported. Its exports have been computed at over four millions of 
dollars annually. The falls of the Eappahannock, in the vicinity, 
afford good water power. There were in 1840, by the United States 
statistics, seventy-three stores, with a capital of $376,961; two 
tanneries, paints, drugs, etc., with a capital of $37,000; one grist 
mill, two printing offices, four semi-weekly newspapers; capital in 
manufactures, $141,200; five academies, with 256 students, and 
seven schools, with 156 scholars. The population in 1830, whites, 
1,797; slaves, 1,124; free blacks, 387— total, 3,308. The popula- 
tion in 1840 was 3,974." 

But the commercial prosperity of the town even in 1840 was not 
equal to its advantages, but it steadily grew and prospered during 
the next decade. The completion of a canal, extending from the 
town to a point on the Eappahannock river, a distance of forty 



* The water came from two springs — Poplar spring and Smith's spring 



68 Histm^y of Frederichsburg , Yirginia 

miles, railroad facilities and river navigation by sail vessels and 
steamboats, greatly enlarged her commercial advantages and in- 
creased her export trade, and the beginning of the year 1850 found 
her enjoying a degree of material prosperity, presaging a glorious 
commercial future. Commencing the year 1850 under circum- 
stances so encouraging, the next decade was expected to exceed in 
all departments of trade the preceding one. 

The failure to build a railroad through the section of country 
from which the bulk of our trade was drawn, and the substitution 
therefor of a plank road, with the building of the Orange and Alex- 
andria railroad, now the Western, and the advance of the Balti- 
more and Ohio railroad along the upper line of the Shenandoah 
Valley, greatly injured the trade of Fredericksburg by diverting 
from her a large amount of produce, which was formerly brought 
to town in wagons, and while in 1860 the population had somewhat 
increased, the general trade of the town was diminished. 

THE CORPORATE LIMITS EXTENDED. 

In the year 1851 the Legislature passed a bill extending the 
limits of the town, in accordance with a plan made by Commission- 
ers appointed by the Common Council. That extension embraced 
the territory we now have within the corporate limits except a por- 
tion of the Water Power Company, the survey having been made 
by Mr. William Slaughter, City Surveyor, in 1850, and reported to 
the Council by Joseph Sanford, John Minor and John Pritchard, 
who were appointed a committee by the Council to '^enquire into 
the expediency of extending the limits of the said town." After 
making a thorough examination, this committee reported back to 
the body that it was both expedient and desirable that the extension 
should be made, which report and recommendation were adopted. 
To carry out this action, the Council appointed Hugh S. Scott, Wm. 
S. Barton, John James Chew, Joseph Sanford and John Pritchard, 
and they were instructed and empowered as a Commission, under 
the provisions of the act of the Legislature, to locate and lay out 
such streets in the part of the town annexed by the provisions of the 
bill, as they might think proper, and report back to the Council, 



History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 69 

with a full plan of their work. But it was provided that none of 
the new streets reported upon were to be opened unless the Council 
should decide it necessary, and in that event, if the owners of the 
lots did not relinquish their claims to the town, damages were to 
be paid by the Council in such sums as should be ascertained by 
three disinterested freeholders of Spotsylvania county, who should 
be appointed by the county court of said county for that purpose. 
The Commission performed the duties assigned them by the Coun- 
cil, and laid out the new portion of the town into streets, giving a 
name to each, but many of them were never opened, as they were 
not needed, and remain closed to this day. 

The same act made it unnecessary for either the Mayor or Ee- 
corder of the town to be present and preside over the hustings court, 
but made it lawful for any three Justices of the Corporation to 
hold the court, except, as in the former act, where parties were to 
be examined or tried for felonies it required that five Justices 
should be present and preside. In consequence of this provision 
the court would convene with five Justices when felony cases were 
to be considered, and after they were disposed of, two of them 
would be excused and the other three would continue the session 
until the business of the court was completed. These Justices were 
appointed by the Governor, on the recommendation of the hustings 
court, and were among the best citizens and most successful busi- 
ness men of the town, and what they lacked in a knowledge of the 
law, it is generally agreed they more than made up in good common 
sense and unyielding integrity. 

In the following year, 1852, the Legislature passed another 
amendment to the charter of the town, extending its limits, but 
this amendment was only made necessary to correct an error in the 
section of the act of the year before, extending the corporate 
limits. The metes and bounds were left the same as prescribed in 
the act of 1851. 

In 1858 an act was passed by the Legislature enabling the Coun- 
cil to sell real estate for delinquent taxes due the town. It 
authorized the authorities to sell all real estate within the corpora- 
tion returned delinquent for the non-payment of taxes and interest. 



70 History of Frederichshurg , Virginia 

and to make such regulations for affecting the sale and collecting 
the taxes as they might deem expedient. In case the sale was not 
made and the taxes remained unpaid, the taxes became a lien on 
the property and ten per centum was charged thereon until they 
were paid. The act also provided that if the taxes due on real estate 
were paid by the tenant, who was not the owner of the property, 
the amount might be deducted from the rents of the same in settle- 
ment with the owner. In cases where the property was owned by 
non-residents, and was vacant or unimproved, and no levy could 
be made to satisfy the taxes, the town was authorized to take sum- 
mary proceedings before any court in the State, on ten days' 
notice to the parties owning the delinquent property. 

In 1861 another act was passed by the Legislature, extending the 
corporate limits of the town. This was done in order to bring 
certain property within the limits of the town for the purpose of 
city taxation, according to a previous agreement with the owners of 
the Fredericksburg Water Power. That agreement was that all 
mills and manufactories, using the water of that company for 
power, erected after the completion of the canal, should be liable 
for, and should pay, city taxes. The extension by this act is de- 
scribed as follows : 

"Beginning at a point Sixtj^-seven feet North 64i degrees east 
from the northeast cornerstone of the present boundary of said 
town; and running thence to the Bappahannock river twelve hun- 
dred and fifty feet to a stone; thence south 58-1 degrees west, four 
hundred and sixty-six feet to a stone; thence south 13^ degrees 
west, three hundred and seventy feet to a stone; thence south 35-J 
degrees east, six hundred and eight feet to a stone; thence south 38| 
degrees, two hundred and eighty-five feet to a stone; thence south 
25^ degrees east, one hundred and forty-four feet to a stone in a 
line with the present corporation line; thence with said line north 
64J degrees east six hundred and eighty feet to the point of begin- 
ning, and particularly set out and described in a survey and plat 
made by Carter M. Braxton, dated the 23rd day of January, 1861, 
and deposited in the clerk's office of the corporation court of said 
town." 



CHAPTEE VI 

The War Clouds Gathering — Frcderichsburg in the Confederacy — 
Troops Eaised and Equipped — The Surrender of the Town to 
the Federal Authorities — Arrested and Held as Hostages — 
Citizens Flee from their Homes — The Bombardment of the 
Town, &c. 

Nothwithstanding the fact that Fredericksburg had been growing 
for so many years, and the further fact that she had enjoyed the 
prosperity which is claimed for her, and of which we have written, 
the town had attained at this time only to the moderate propor- 
tions of a population of about five thousand inhabitants. But it 
was a delightful place, nevertheless, with a salubrious climate, good 
water, charming society, picturesque surroundings and cheapness of 
living, and had about it a quiet and chastened dignity of age and 
respectability, both attractive and impressive. Such was Fred- 
ericksburg when the storm-cloud of war burst upon her in 1861. 

PEEDERICKSBURG IN THE CONFEDERACY. 

We shall not attempt in these pages to fully portray the scenes 
enacted in the town, or narrate the part played by Fredericksburg 
in that terrible war. A true portrayal and narration of them is 
beyond the power of the tongue of the finished orator, the pen of 
the most gifted writer or the brush of the most skilled artist. No 
one can know them save those who endured them and were a part 
and parcel of them, and even they are unable to describe them with 
all of their horrible, bloody and destructive realities. It would 
take a pen almost inspired to truthfully describe the fiery scenes, 
the devastation, the trials, the privations, the sufferings of body and 
mind and the heroism of the inhabitants, who were then in town, 
in the terrible ordeal through which they passed, and the fortitude 
with which they stood the test. 

A great change was now about to take place. The quiet of the 
staid and sober town was about to be broken by the sound of the 
drum and the tramp of armed men. The activity of commerce had 

[ 71 ] 



'^3 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

ceased, a spirit of patriotism prevailed ; and this patriotism was not 
demonstrative only, it was deep and real, and was afterwards sealed 
by the best blood of the town. 

TROOPS RAISED AND EQUIPPED. 

There was never any doubt as to the part the citizens of Fred- 
ericksburg would take in the war. It is true the town was always 
conservative and loyal to the government; it had sent a Union 
man to the State Convention, which was to consider and pass upon 
the question of union or disunion; he had received almost a two- 
thirds vote of the qualified voters of the town, but all this was done 
with a strong hope that the political differences of the two great 
sections of the country — North and South — could and would be 
settled without a separation. When it was ascertained that such a 
settlement could not be had, and when that assurance was followed 
by a call on the States from President Lincoln for seventy-five thous- 
and troops to coerce the seceded Southern States back into the 
Union and that Virginia was expected to furnish her quota of that 
number, the sentiment of the entire population changed, and the 
most ardent Union men, with few exceptions, became strong sym- 
pathizers of the Southern movement and were ready to take up 
arms in defence of the South. The Constitutional Convention, 
that up to that time was supposed to be against the adoption of the 
ordinance of secession, rapidly changed front, and when the ordi- 
nance was submitted to a vote it was passed by a large majority, 
the delegate from Fredericksburg, Hon. John L. Marye, Sr., voting 
for its adoption. 

The two volunteer militia companies, which had been in exist- 
ence in town for many years, became the nucleus around which 
was formed the Thirtieth Eegiment of Virginia Volunteers. 
This regiment, commanded successively by Colonel Milton Cary, 
Colonel Archibald Harrison and Colonel Eobert S. Chew, immedi- 
ately entered upon active duty and performed good service through- 
out the war. The Fredericksburg artillery, under Captain Carter 
M. Braxton, was organized at the beginning of the war, and under 
its gallant commanders. Captain Carter M. Braxton, Captain Ed- 




Hon. Montgomery Slaughter, 

"ri'.e War Mayor" of Fredericksburg. 

(See page 74) 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 73 

ward Marye and Captain John G. Pollock, greatly distinguished 
itself. 

It is claimed that this company fired the first shot at the battle of 
Fredericksburg and was honored with a like distinction at Gettys- 
burg; and yet a greater honor awaited this heroic band than either 
of these or the two combined, which each member and his descend- 
ants will ever cherish Avith pride. Its members claim to have fired 
the last gun at Appomattox on the 9th of April, 1865, the day on 
which General Eobert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern 
Virginia to General U. S. Grant, where and when the Star of the 
Southern Confederacy went down, never, never more to rise. All 
honor to such brave and heroic men ! The following is a correct 
list of the members of the Fredericksburg artillery at the time of 
the surrender, furnished by a member of the company, most of 
whom are now living: 

Captain John G. Pollock, Lieutenant A. W. Johnson, Lieutenant 
Clinton Southworth, Sergeant Henry G. Chesley, Sergeant L. T. 
Bunnell, Sergeant James Taylor, Sergeant Charles B. Fleet, Gun- 
ner M. C. Hall, Gunner Samuel H. Thorburn, Picket Sergeant J. 
L. Marye, Jr., H. P. Martin, Quarter Master Sergeant; Gunner 
J. E. Ferneyhough, Gunner P. V. D. Conway, Gunner W. F. Gor- 
don, Gunner E. W. McGuire, Harrison Southworth, Guidon; Pri- 
vates W. A. Anthony, John Scott Berry, John J. Berrey, Wm. E. 
Bradley, J. A. Bowler, Oscar Berry, James E. Berrey, Wm. Bowler, 
Eobert C. Beale, J. H. Butzner, Henry Berry, C. B. Cason, L. 
P. Carter, Walter Carter, W. M. Chewning, J. S. Cannon, W. S. 
Chartters, Jacob Crowder, G. W. Clarke, J. H. Clarke, S. H. Crock- 
ford, A. P. Carneal, Charles Donahoe, James Donahoe, W. B. Dick- 
inson, Elijah E. Fines, E. C. Fitzhugh, M. A. Ferneyhough, Duff 
Green (of Brooke), J. T. Goolrick, E. C. Grjnnes, J. E. Gouldman, 
Landon Gallahan, Henry Gallahan, John M. Garrett, James W. 
Hogans, George F. Harrison, George M. Harrison, John E. Harri- 
son, Eobert Haislip, Matthew Hudson, John S. Johnson, W. Stan- 
field Jones, J. Chester Jones, C. W. Jenkins, John T. Knight, 
David Corbin Ker, Hubbard M. Long, Charles Lyell, Alfred J. 
Marye, J. W. McWhirt, J. A. Marye, A. Stewart Marye, J. W. 



74 History of Frederichslurg , Virginia 

Mitchell, Frank A. Maddox, Thomas E. Maddex, Charles W. 
Manley, John McKay, W. Nelson Marye, George Oakes, M. B. Pol- 
lock, George B. Pearson, Joseph S. Payne, Harvey W. Proctor, An- 
thony Patton, John T. Eoberts, Henry Eobinson, W. T. Eobinson, 
John D. Smith,* E. B. Semple, Warner L. Sisson, Lawrence San- 
ford, Charles H. Scott, John Sullivan, Peter Sullivan, H. Cabell 
Tabb, A. Byrd Waller, H. H. Wallace, Arthur Wallace, George 
Willis. 

Many of the young men at the first opportunity entered the 
various branches of the service — the cavalry, infantry, navy, ma- 
rine, and other positions necessary and honorable — where they 
served their country well and faithfully, and in many cases with 
distinguished ability. So rapid were these enlistments, that in less 
than twelve months the town was almost stripped of her youths and 
arms-bearing men, and of her former population— those remaining 
at home were the older men, the women and a few colored people. 

THE SURRENDER OF THE TOWN TO THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. 

Gen. McDowell's Forces Arrive. 

On the 19th of April, 1862, the town first fell into the hands of 
the Federal Army. On that day a meeting of the Common Council 
was held, and a committee, consisting of Mayor Slaughter, Wm. 
A. Little, Esq., Thomas B. Barton, Esq., Dr. J. Gordon Wallace, 
Eev. William F. Broaddus, D. D., and Gov. John L. Marye, Jr., 
three members on the part of the Common Council and three repre- 
senting the citizens, was appointed to confer with the commanding 
officer of the United States forces, relative to the surrender of the 
town. They were instructed to inform him that inasmuch as the 
forces of the Confederate States had evacuated the town no resis- 
tance would be made to its occupation by the United States troops, 
and to ask such protection for persons and property as was consis- 
tent with the rules of civilized warfare. They were also instructed 
to inform the Commanding General ''that the population of this 
town have been in the past, and are now, in conviction and senti- 



* Died at Crystal Springs, Miss., Marcli 1, 1900. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 75 

ment, loyal to the existing govermnent of the State of Virginia and 
Confederate States." This was an honest and frank statement, 
made by the Common Council of the threatened town to the Com- 
manding General of the invading army, and there can be no doubt 
that this honest acknowledgment won the friendship and respect 
of the commandant of the post and saved much property from 
destruction and many of the inhabitants from indignities on the 
part of the garrison. 

The United States forces took possession of the Stafford hills, 
which commanded the town, on the 19th day of April. The de- 
struction of the bridges connecting the town with the Stafford 
shore delayed the actual presence of the troops in town for several 
days, and it was not until the morning of the 27th that General 
Marsena E. Patrick established his headquarters and took provost 
command of the town. Unlike many of the subordinate command- 
ers Gen. Patrick was considered a generous man and a kind, hu- 
mane officer, and many of the citizens who were at their homes, while 
he was here in command, unite in bearing testimony, that under his 
govermnent military rule in Fredericksburg was kindly exercised 
and the people were not oppressed, and not a few of them conceived 
a sincere respect for his character, and to this day his acts of kind- 
ness and thoughtful consideration are gratefully referred to by 
them. 

This state of things continued until after the disastrous result 
to General George B. McClellan's army in the Seven Days' battles 
around Eichmond. After those engagements General McClellan 
was superseded in the command of the Army of the Potomac by 
General John Pope. General Pope was from the Western Army, 
and upon taking command of the army in Virginia issued a high- 
sounding, pompous order in which he belittled the valor of the 
Confederate soldiers of the west, asserting he had ''only seen the 
backs of the enemy," and his purpose in coming to this army was 
to lead it to victory and success. In that order he declared that 
he did not want to hear such phrases as "taking strong positions 
and holding them," "lines of retreat" and "bases of supplies," 
which he was told was common in the armv. He declared that the 



76 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

glory of the soldier was in pushing the enemy and studying the- 
lines of his retreat, which he then proposed to do. 

He announced his purpose to subsist the invading army by 
enforced supplies from his enemies, and, in order to prepare the 
world and give it some idea of his rapid movements and brilliant 
feats, issued orders from "headquarters in the saddle." This unique 
order, full as it was of boastings of what he had done and what 
he proposed to do, failed to frighten the Confederate commanders, 
as General Pope, no doubt, thought it would do. On the contrary, 
without loss of time they concentrated their forces, gave him battle- 
and the Federal commander was ingloriously driven from the field, 
with great loss of men, arms and supplies. And so in less than 
sixty days from the time he took command of the army he was 
relieved by General McClellan, whom he superseded, having lost 
every engagement fought during the time. His advance through 
the counties of Fauquier and Culpeper to Fredericksburg, when 
he took command of the army, caused great consternation because 
of his unreasonable and cruel exactions. Many private citizens,. 
who had never entered the Confederate service, were arrested upon, 
their refusal to take the oath of allegiance to the United States 
government, and were ruthlessly dragged from their homes and 
confined in Northern prisons. 

GEN. POPE TAKES POSSESSION OF THE TOWN — HELD AS HOSTAGES. 

Finally the power of this pompous commander reached Fred- 
ericksburg, and many of her citizens shared the fate of the unfor- 
tunate citizens of Fauquier and Culpeper counties. By General 
Pope's order nineteen of our most prominent and highly esteemed 
citizens were arrested and sent to Washington, where they were 
incarcerated in Old Capitol prison. These men were arrested in 
retaliation for the arrest of two Union men by the Confederate 
authorities — Major Charles Williams, of Fredericksburg, and Mr. 
Wardwell, of Eichmond — and confined in prison at Eichmond. 
Major Williams was a native of Fredericksburg and died here 
several years after the war, and Mr. Wardwell, we are informed was 
a northern man and was appointed superintendent of the peniten- 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 77 

iiary wlien Virginia was made "Military District ISTo. 1, with head- 
quarters at Richmond." 

These nineteen gentlemen were arrested in August, 1862, and 
confined in Old Capitol prison until the latter part of the following 
September, a period of about six weeks. It will be seen from the 
list of the names that they were the leading citizens of the town, 
exempt from military service by reason, either of age or official posi- 
tion, and were the natural guardians of the helpless women and 
children who were then in town. The list is as follows:* Eev. 
Wm. F. Broaddus, D. D., James McGuire, Charles C. Wellford, 
Thomas F. Knox, Beverley T. Gill, James H. Bradley, Thomas 
B. Barton, Benjamin Temple, Lewis Wrenn, Michael Ames, John 
Coakley, John H. Roberts, John J. Berrey, Dr. James Cooke, John 
F. Scott, Montgomery Slaughter, George H. C. Eowe, Wm. H. 
iNTorton, Abraham Cox. 

The Christian Banner, then published in Fredericksburg by Rev. 
James W. Hunnicutt, of the Free Will Baptist denomination, him- 
self a strong Union man, and who would not have written compli- 
mentary of these gentlemen beyond their respective merits, pub- 
lished the following short sketches of the "Fredericksburg prison- 
ers" : 

Thomas B. Barton is the oldest lawyer at the Fredericksburg 
bar and Attorney for the Commonwealth. He was originally an 
Old Line Whig and a member of the congregation of the Episcopal 
church. 

Thomas F. Knox was a large wheat speculator and flower manu- 
facturer, an Old Line Whig and a prominent member of the Epis- 
copal church. 

Beverley T. Gill was, for a number of years, a large merchant 
"tailor, but for several years past had retired into private life. Was 
an Old Line Whig and a prominent member of the Presbyterian 
church. 

Charles C. Wellford was an extensive dry goods merchant, the 
oldest in town, than whom none stood higher. Was an Old Line 
Whig and an elder in the Presbyterian church. 



* This list was obtained from a diary kept by John J. Berrey while in prison. 



78 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

James McGuire was one of the oldest merchants in Fredericks- 
burg, an Old Line Whig, a prominent member of the Presbyterian 
church and a most excellent man. 

James H. Bradley was a grocery merchant, an Old Line Whig 
and a deacon in the Baptist church. 

Eev. William F. Broaddus, D. D., was the pastor of the Baptist 
church in Fredericksburg and an Old Line Whig. He conducted 
a female school in addition to his pastoral work.* 

Montgomery Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, was a large 
wheat speculator and ilour manufacturer, was an Old Line Whig 
and a member of the Episcopal church. 

George H. C. Eowe was a talented jurist, a Democrat and a 
Douglas elector during the late presidential election and a member 
of the Baptist church. 



* Some amusing incidents are related of Dr. Broaddus wliile a prisoner 
worth relating in these pages. The Doctor was an educated, polished gentleman, 
and quite a humorist. When he was received into prison the keeper pi-oceeded 
in his usual manner to ascertain his name, age and place of nativity. When 
asked his name he said it was William F. Broaddus. "What does the F stand 
for?" asked the keeper. The Doctor replied that he did not know. "Don't 
know?" demanded the keeper. "I will tell you the circumstances," said the 
Doctor, "and let you decide for yourself. My name was William Francis Ferguson. 
I did not like the two F's and asked my mother to let me drop one. She con- 
sented and I dropped one, but I never could tell whether I dropped the one 
that stood for Francis or the one that stood for Ferguson. Now, can you tell 
me which one I dropped?" The keeper saw he was beaten, and demanded, "What 
is your age?" "I was born in the year of one." replied the Doctor. "What! Do you 
mean to tell me you are 1861 years old," shouted the keeper. "Not at all," 
said the Doctor. "Well, then, explain yourself," demanded the keeper, showing 
some impatience. "I was born in the year one of this century," responded the 
Doctor. "Where were you born?" indignantly asked the keeper. "Now, you've 
got me again," answered the Doctor. "That's a question I have long wanted 
settled, and I'll state the case and perhaps you can help me settle it. My birth- 
place at the time of my birth was in Culpeper' county. Changes in county lines 
afterwards placed it in Rappahannock county. Now, if I were to tell you I 
was born in Culpeper, and you should go down there to inquire, you would And 
the place in Rappahannock. If I were to tell you I was. born in Rappahan- 
nock and you were to investigate you would find that when I was born the 
place was in Culpeper and there was no Rappahannock county at the time. 
Now, will you please tell me where I was born?" The keeper passed him with- 
out further questions. 

It was the habit of Dr. Broaddus to preach on Sunday mornings to his fel- 
low prisoners, and such others as would come to hear him while the prison 
chaplain would hold services in another part of the prison. It is related of the 
superintendent of the prison, that in making the announcements for preaching 
he would cry out : "All who wish to hear the gospel according to Abraham 
Lincoln come this way ; those who wish to hear it according to Jeff. Davis go 
over there," pointing to Dr. Broaddus and his congregation. 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 79 

John Coakley was for many years a. merchant, but for several 
years past had retired from business, and, at the time of his arrest, 
was Superintendent of the Fredericksburg Aquaduct Company. 
He was an Old Line Whig and a very prominent member of the 
Episcopal church. 

Benjamin Temple was a wealthy farmer, an Old Line Whig and, 
we believe, a member of no church, but a most excellent man. 

Dr. James Cooke was a druggist, owning the largest establish- 
ment, perhaps south of the Potomac river; was an Old Line Whig 
and a prominent member of the Episcopal church. 

John F. Scott was proprietor of the large Fredericksburg 
foundry and carried on an extensive business up to the time the 
Union troops took possession of Fredericksburg, was an Old Line 
Whig and a prominent member of the Episcopal church. 

John H. Eoberts lived off his income, was an old Line Whig 
and, we believe, was a member of no church. 

Michael Ames was a blacksmith, an Old Line Whig and a mem- 
ber of no church. 

John J. Berrey, formerly engaged in a large produce business, 
but at the time of his arrest connected with a hardware store, was 
an Old Line Whig and a member of no church. 

Abraham Cox was a tailor, a Breckinridge Democrat and a 
Southern Methodist. 

William H. Xorton was a house carpenter, an Old Line Whig 
and a member of the Baptist church. 

Lewis Wrenn, no particular business, an Old Line Whig and a 
member of the Baptist church. 

After these gentlemen had been in prison some four weeks they 
procured a parole and permission to send Dr. Broaddus to Eich- 
mond to effect the release of Major Williams and Mr. Wardwell,. 
that he and his friends might be liberated and permitted to re- 
turn to their homes. Armed with a parole and passports, Dr. 
Broaddus proceeded to Eichmond, where he called upon Judge 
Beverley E. Wellford, Jr., formally of Fredericksburg, who went 
with him to see Mr. Eandolph, Secretary of War. After hearing 
the case Mr. Eandolph ordered the release of the two prisoners, and 



'80 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

Dr. Broaddus returned to Washington with great joy, supposing 
that he and his fellow prisoners would be at once set at liberty. 
But not so. The Federal authorities changed their requirements 
and demanded also the release of two gentlemen by the name of 
Turner, who resided in Fairfax count}^, and were then held in a 
Confederate prison. 

It took nearly two weeks to effect the release of these Turners, 
and when it was done the certificate of release, signed by General 
Winder, the Commandant of the post at Eichmond, was rejected by 
the Federal authorities as evidence of the release of the prisoners, 
and the personal presence of the Turners was demanded in Wash- 
ington before the release of the Fredericksburg party. This took 
time, but it was finally accomplished, and the Fredericksburgers 
were permitted to leave their prison pen and again '^breathe the air 
of freedom." They were sent down the Potomac river on a steamer 
to Marlborough Point, from which landing they walked to town to 
greet their families and friends. There was great rejoicing on 
their return, and the whole population turned out to meet them 
and give them a cordial welcome. Of that party of nineteen not one 
of them is living to-day. The "last one to cross the river" was Mr. 
Abraham Cox, who died December 28, 1898, eighty-six years of age. 

But the unkindness of the military authorities and their harsh 
treatment of our citizens, by the order of General Pope, did not 
•cease with the arrest and incarceration of the nineteen gentlemen 
above mentioned. Among other things, the Federal Provost Mar- 
shal of Fredericksburg was charged with too much leniency to the 
citizens and was removed; Col. Scriver was falsely charged with 
furnishing the destitute with food, and was ordered to stop it at 
once, if he had done so, and not to repeat it, and the stores and 
places of business were closed, it was said, to prevent the citizens 
from obtaining supplies. General Pope's plan seems to have been, 
as he declared, to subsist his army as much as possible on the coun- 
try and to starve the old men and women into submission to his 
demands. In this, however, he was not sustained by the Washing- 
ton authorities, and especially by President Lincoln. 

This condition of things in Fredericksburg continued only for a 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 81 

short time. The campaign, inaugurated by General Pope, which 
resulted in the Second Battle of Manassas and so disastrously to the 
Federal army, was speedily followed by the advance of the Con- 
federate army into Marjdand, the capture of Harper's Ferry, with 
General Nelson A. Miles's whole force of eleven thousand prisoners 
and immense military supplies, by General Thomas J. (Stonewall) 
Jackson, aided by General Wm. Barksdale, on the Maryland 
Heights, and General John B. Floyd, on the Loudoun Heights, 
and the fierce and bloody, but undecided, struggle between General 
Lee and General McClellan at Sharpsburg. 

In consequence of the results of these events the Federal authori- 
ties found it necessary to recall from the line of the Eappahannock, 
which they were unable to hold, the forces then occupying the same, 
and therefore on the 21st day of August, 1862, Fredericksburg 
was evacuated by the Federal forces, and thus for a brief time the 
town was relieved from the presence and rule of the enemy until 
the following November, when Gen. Burnside moved against the 
town. 

EVACUATION" SCENES. 

The scenes incident to the evacuation of Fredericksburg are well 
remembered to the present day by those who were present and wit- 
nessed them. They are indelibly impressed upon their minds and 
can never be forgotten, and are often related with great interest. 
In describing this stirring event and the reoccupation of the town 
in the Fall of 1862, we use the eyes of citizens, who were present 
and witnessed the scenes described and the words of another, who 
wrote of them years afterwards.* Crowds at the corners of the 
streets indicated that some unusual excitement prevailed, and 
clouds of smoke rose from the encampments on the Stafford side of 
the river. Everything indicated an immediate departure. The 
guards were drawn up in line; the horses and wagons packed at 
headquarters; cavalry officers rode up and down, giving orders; 



* The scenes of the evacuation of Fredericksburg are taken principally from 
"The Past, Present and Future of Fredericksburg, by Rev. Robert R. Howison, LL. 
D., who was aided in its preparation by diaries kept by those present at the 
time and the recitals of other eye witnesses, besides newspaper articles, the re- 
ports of Generals in both armies and our own knowledge, being present. 



82 History of Frederichsburg , Yirginia 

company after company of pickets were led into to^vn from different 
roads and joined the regiment at the City Hall ; ambulances, with 
the sick, moved slowly through the streets ; the provost marshal and 
his adjutant rode by, and, in a few minutes, the command was 
given to march, and the infantry and cavalry marched down to the 
bridges, each one moving by different streets. This march was 
quietly made. There was no music, no drum, no voice, but the 
command of the officers' forward, march ! 

The ladies, standing in groups along the streets, found it diffi- 
cult to repress their exultation. Glad to be relieved of the presence 
of the enemy, and to be freed from the restraints of their power; 
glad to be once more within Southern lines, and to be brought into 
communication with their own dear people ; but the great gladness 
was that the evacuation of Fredericksburg showed that the enemy 
had been defeated on the upper line and could no longer hold the 
line of the Eappahannock river. And this gave them strong hope 
that Virginia might yet be free from the armies of the invader. 

Several severe explosions followed the blowing up of the two 
bridges, and, as the bright flames seized upon and leaped along the 
sides and floors of the bridges, the whole horizon was illuminated. 
The burning continued all night. A guard was at once organized 
by the citizens, for the protection of the town against any stragglers 
or unruly persons who might chance to be prowling about. 

With the departure of the Federal troops came now the desire 
on the part of the citizens of town and country to meet and greet 
each other, and also a longing to welcome the appearance of the 
Confederates, a sight which had so long been denied them. In 
this, to their great delight, they were soon to realize their wish, for 
on the 2nd day of September about two hundred people came into 
town from the surrounding country, and general congratulations 
ensued. On the evening of that day a small force of Confederate 
cavalry rode into town and were received with shouts of joy. The 
ladies lined the streets, waving their hankerchiefs and loudly utter- 
ing their welcome. 

On the morning of the 4th of September the soldiers in camp at 
Hazel Eun were treated to breakfast by the ladies, and greatly en- 





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"Chancellorsville Tavern," Gen. Hooker's Headquarters during the 

battle there in 1863. Burnt during that^battle, May^Srd. 
(See page 95) 




'The Sunken Road," along which the "stone wall" stood, form- 
ing breastworks for the Confederates in 1862 and 1863. 
(See page 91) 



History of Fredericlcsburg , Virginia 83 

juyed the hot rolls, beefsteak and hot coffee, after their long absti- 
nence from such delicacies, and probably from rations of any sort, 
'^fter a brief season of comparative quiet, disturbed only by the 
".ral interest felt in the operations of our armies, the condition 
ot the country generally, and the liability to the reoccupation of 
the town at any time, Fredericksburg was again the subject and 
recipient of war's horrors in their most appalling form. 

GENERAL BURNSIDE's OCCUPATIOI^ OF FREDERICKSBUKG. 

The Preliminaries to the Great Battle. 

On Sunday morning, the 10th of November, 1863, a company 
of Federal cavalry, commanded by Captain Ulric Dahlgren 
crossed the Eappahannock river, above Falmouth, and charged 
-apidly down Main street, with drawn sabres. A small force of 
v^onfederate cavalry (Colonel John Critcher's battalion), was quar- 
tered in town, who, recovering from the disorder into which they 
were thrown by the sudden and unexpected appearance of the 
enemy, quickly rallied, and, aided by citizens and Captain Simp- 
son's company, of Colonel "W. B. Ball's command, attacked the 
raiders, pursued and drove them across the river, inflicting upon 
them a slight loss in men and horses. The Federal army then be- 
gan to move down from Fauquier, Culpeper and Prince William 
counties, through Stafford county, to occupy Fredericksburg. 

To Colonel Wm. A. Ball, an experienced officer, who had greatly 
distinguished himself at the battle of Leesburg, and in other en- 
counters, was entrusted by General Lee the duty of holding the 
toAvn, and in retarding the approach of the enemy, if possible, 
with the promise of speedy reinforcements. The divisions of 
Gen. Lafayette McLaws and General Eobert Eansom, of General 
Longstreet's corps, with General Wm. H. F. Lee's brigade of cavalry 
and a battery of artillery, were marched hurriedly to this point, 
and the whole of General Lee's army prepared to follow. 

On Sunday, November 16th, Colonel Ball's scouts announced the 
approach of the enemy on three roads — the Warrenton, Stafford 
Courthouse and the Poplar. He telegraphed to General Gustavus. 
W. Smith, in Eichmond, for reinforcements. General Smithy 



84 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

promptly sent him a battalion of four companies, under Major 
Finney, from the Forty-second Mississippi. With his small force, 
which scarcely exceeded five hundred men, the gallant Colonel pro- 
posed to engage the enemy, if he sought to cross the Eappahannock 
near Fredericksburg. Colonel Ball placed his infantry in the mill- 
race and mill opposite Falmouth, stationed his cavalry in the upper 
part of Fredericksburg and planted Captain John W. Lewis's bat- 
tery of four guns and eighty men on the plateau around the old 
Fitzgerald residence, at Little Falls, half a mile above the town. 

At 10 o'clock on Monday, the 18th, the Southern scouts were 
driven across the river by the enemy's cavalry, and several hours 
thereafter a Federal corps, of twelve thousand strong, appeared on 
the Stafford Heights, opposite Fredericksburg, and planted their 
field-batteries, consisting of more than twenty guns. Capt. Lewis's 
men maintained their ground and replied to the rapid firing of the 
enemy. The distance was short — less than half a mile. The fir- 
ing of the men was accurate, yet the Confederate fire was kept up, 
and the Federals, uncertain as to the force opposing them, made no 
attempt to cross the river. 

Colonel Ball, with five hundred men, maintained his front, in 
the face of the twelve thousand Federals, encouraged by General 
Lee, who telegraphed him, "Hold your position if you can. Eein- 
forcements are hurrying to you." On Tuesday, the 18th, the 
enemy's force was largely increased. General Burnside's whole 
force was pouring down to the Stafford hills. They were waiting 
for pontoon bridges, and did not cross the river. 

Meanwhile Gen. Lee's army was rushing down the roads from 
Culpeper and Orange counties to occupy the crest of hills around 
Fredericksburg. Wednesday, at daybreak. General Fitzhugh Lee's 
cavalry arrived. The next morning General McLaws, with his 
own division and that of General Eansom's, was in position, and on 
the 20th the Commander-in-Chief was at hand to direct the move- 
ments of the remainder of General Longstreet's command and Gen- 
eral Jackson's corps, which rapidly followed him. 

On Tuesday, the 20th of ISTovember, by request of General Lee, 
Montgomery Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, accompanied by 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 85 

the Eecorder, William A. Little, Esq., and by Mr. Douglas H. Gor- 
don, a member of her Council, held an interview with the Con- 
federate Commander-in-Chief. It was held at Snowden, the resi- 
dence of the late John L. Stansbury, about a mile above town. On 
Frida)^, the 21st, General E. V. Sumner, of the Federal Army, sent 
over a flag of truce, with a written message to the Mayor and Com- 
mon Council of Fredericksburg. General Patrick, the bearer of 
the message, was met by Colonel Wm. A. Ball at "French John's" 
wharf, at the foot of Hawke street. General Sumner's letter, to 
the town authorities was as follows : 

"Gentlemen : — Under cover of the houses of your town, shots 
have been fired upon the troops of my command. Your mills and 
factories are furnishing provisions and material for clothing for 
armed bodies in rebellion against the Government of the United 
States. Your railroads and other means of transportation are re- 
moving supplies to the depots of such troops. This condition of 
things must terminate; and by direction of Major-General Burn- 
side, commanding this army, I accordingly demand the surrender 
of the city into my hands, as the representative of the Government 
of the United States, at or before five o'clock this afternoon (5 
o'clock P. M. to-day). Failing an affirmative reply to this demand 
by the time indicated, sixteen (16 hours) hours will be permitted 
to elapse for the removal from the city of women and children, the 
sick, wounded and aged; which period having elapsed, I shall 
proceed to shell the town. 

'TJpon obtaining possession of the town every necessary means 
will be taken to preserve order and secure the protective operation 
of the laws and policy of the United States Government." 

Colonel Ball simply stated to General Patrick that before deliver- 
ing the letter to the civil authorities it must be referred to his com- 
manding military officer. But neither he nor the Mayor gave any 
intimation of the actual presence of General Lee, with a large part 
of his army, on the heights in rear of the town. General Patrick 
was obliged to remain in the log house from ten o'clock in the 
morning to seven in the afternoon, on the 21st. Meanwhile 



86 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

Colonel Ball, through the proper channels forwarded the letter to 
General Lee. At twenty minutes before five o'clock in the after- 
noon the letter was received at his office by the Mayor, through 
General J. E, B. Stuart, who communicated in full General Lee's 
decision. With the aid of his advisers, Mayor Slaughter prepared 
a written reply, bearing date, "Mayor's Office, Fredericksburg, 
November 21st, 1862." This reply was to the effect that the com- 
munication of General Sumner had not reached the Mayor in time 
to furnish a reply by 5 o'clock P. M., as requested ; that it had been 
sent to him after passing (by General Patrick's consent) through the 
hands of the commanding officer of the Confederate States forces 
near the town; that as to the shots complained of in the northern 
•suburbs of the town, they were the acts of the Confederate military 
force holding the town; that the Mayor was authorized to say that 
the several subjects of complaint would not recur; that the Con- 
federate troops would not occupy the town, and neither Avould they 
permit the Federal troops to do so. Mayor Slaughter, attended 
by Dr. Wm. S. Scott and Samuel S. Howison, Esq., repaired to the 
place of meeting, and, at about seven o'clock in the evening, de- 
livered the reply to General Patrick. 

In view of the threatened shelling of the town, General Lee 
advised the inhabitants to remove from it as rapidly as possible. 
The bombardment was not opened the next morning, but it became 
apparent that the enemy would cross, and the town would be ex- 
posed, not only to their fire, but to the most terrible desolations of 
war. The humane and considerate Chief of the Confederate army 
urged the women and children to leave the town, and furnished 
wagons, ambulances and every facility in his power for their aid. 

THE INHABITANTS LEAVE THEIR HOMES. ' ' 

Then followed a scene, illustrating both the horrors of war and 
the virtues to which it sometimes gives birth. The people of Fred- 
ericksburg, almost en masse, left their homes rather than yield to 
the enemy. Trains of cars departed, full of refugees. Upon the 
last the enemy opened a fire of shells; they afterwards explained 
that it was a mistake. Wagons and vehicles of every kind left the 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 87 

town filled with women and little children, with the few articles of 
apparel and necessity that could be removed. Many were seen on 
foot along the roads leading into the country. Winter had com- 
menced, and snow had fallen. Many were compelled to take 
refuge in cabins, barns and tents, scattered through the woods and 
fields. They were dependent for food on the exertions of their 
friends and the humane efforts of the Southern army. 

A few families remained in Fredericksburg, determined to brave 
the horrors of war as long as possible. The hardships and priva- 
tions, incurred by these people, who surrendered their homes and 
property to destruction rather than remain with them and fall 
into the hands of the enemies of their country, excited the sym- 
pathy and won the admiration of the South. A movement to 
aid them commenced in Richmond. A committee of relief and 
treasurer was appointed, and funds were liberally contributed 
throughout the South, and the soldiers in the field, of their small 
rations and pay, contributed generously, both in food and money. 
The contributions of the people and army continued until more 
than ninety thousand dollars had been received and disbursed by 
the committee in Eichmond and nearly an equal, if not greater, 
sum was distributed by Mayor Slaughter. 

A number of skirmishes of an unimportant character were soon 
followed by the grand movement of the enemy. On the night of 
December the 10th the armies prepared for action. Two hundred 
and fifty thousand armed men, like crouched lions ready to spring 
upon their adversary, were ready for the bloody conflict. It was 
the most restless, anxious night ever passed by the citizens of Fred- 
ericksburg. It was the night of terror! The dread of 
to-morrow hung like a pall over the devoted city, and everybody 
was hurriedly preparing for the awful destruction that was at hand 
and could not be averted. The threatened bombardment had long 
been delayed, and many citizens had returned from their flight. 
From one end of the town to the other, all during that sleepless 
night, could be seen in nearly every home dim lights, where busy 
hands with heavy hearts were preparing for the flight at the sound 
of the first gun. "VMiat to attempt to carry, and what to leave to 



88 History of FredericTcsburg , Virginia 

be destroyed by the enemy, was the perplexing question, and so in 
the anxiety of the refugees to take with them sufficient food, cloth- 
ing and bedding to prevent suffering from cold and hunger, they 
overtaxed their strength and had to abandon many things on the 
roadside. 

THE BOMBAEDMENT OP THE TOWN". 

Having received his pontoon bridges, General Burnside prepared 
to throw his grand army across the river. At two o'clock on the 
morning of Thursday, December the 11th, his troops were put in 
motion and two signal guns from the Confederate side, at five 
o'clock,* sounded a note of warning to the people and the army. 
General Burnside commenced throwing three pontoon bridges 
across the Rappahannock river. One was to span the river at 
French John's wharf, at the foot of Hawke street, one at Scott's 
Ferry, at the lower end of Water street, and one at Deep Eun, 
about two and a half miles below town. General Wm. Barksdale's 
brigade, consisting of the Thirteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth and 
Twenty-first Mississippi regiments, held the town. 

"General Barksdale kept his men quiet and concealed until the 
bridges were so far advanced that the working parties were in easy 
range, when he opened fire with such effect that the bridges were 
abandoned at once. Fine separate and desperate attempts were 
made to complete the bridges under fire of their sharpshooters and 
guns on the opposite bank, but every attempt being attended with 
such severe loss from the Confederates, posted in rifle-pits, in the 
cellars of the houses along the banks, and behind whatever offered 
concealment, that the enemy abandoned their attempts and opened 
a terrific fire from their numerous batteries concentrated along the 
hills just above the river. The fire was so severe that the men 
could not use their rifles, and, the different places occupied by them 
becoming untenable, the troops were withdrawn from the river 
bank back to Caroline street at 4:30 P. M. The enemy then 
crossed in boats, and, completing their bridges, passed over in 
force and advanced into the town. The Seventeenth Mississippi 



* See General Lafayette McLaws's report of the battle. 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 89 

and ten sharpshooters from Colonel J. W. Carter's regiment (the 
13th) and three companies of the Eighteenth regiment, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Luse, under Lieutenant William Eatliff, were all 
the troops that were actually engaged in defending the crossings in 
front of the city."* 

The other regiments and parts of regiments were held in reserve, 
and were not brought into action until the enemy had crossed the 
river. At the first dawn of light on the morning of December the 
11th the Federal artillery commenced its work of destruction- 
From the heights above the town of Falmouth, north of Fredericks- 
burg, to the Washington farm below, on every available place 
artillery was stationed, bearing upon the town. About one hun- 
dred and seventy-five of the grim monsters, ready to "belch forth 
death and destruction/' were placed in position the day before, well 
manned, and only waiting for the signal to send forth their deadly 
messengers of shot and shell. 

At the hour appointed the signal was given, and the thunder 
of artillery, the lightning from bursting shells in the air, the 
crashing of solid shot through the houses, the roar of musketry on 
both sides of the river, the shrieks of frightened women and chil- 
dren, the bustle and confusion that followed, may be imagined, but 
can never be described. From early morning until four o'clock 
in the afternoon, with only half an hour's cessation between one 
and two o'clock, this deluge of shot and shell was poured upon the 
streets and houses of the town. The few inhabintants who re- 
mained in the town fled to their cellars and sought to save their 
lives from the storm which was beating their homes to pieces. 
Many houses were burned with all or most of their contents, the 
result of hot shot, it was claimed, thrown from the enemy's guns 
on the Lacy farm, just opposite the town. Among the houses that 
were burned v/ere the residence of Mr. Eeuben T. Thom, in which 
was located the post-oflfice ; the Bank of Virginia, where the Opera- 
house now stands, and several other private residences on Main 
street. And yet the worst was still to come. 



♦ Extract from Gen Lafayette McLaws's official report of the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, made to General james Longstreet — War of Rebellion, Series 1, 
Vol. 21, page 578. 



CHAPTER VII 

The great tattle — The town sacked by soldiers — A ivonderful dis- 
play of humanity — The Federals recross the river — A great 
revivail of religion — The battle of Chancellorsville — The Wild- 
erness campaign — Citizens arrested — A statement by the Coun- 
cil — The citizens and Federal soldiers release, &c. 

To those who had a proper idea of the sacrifices made, the suffer- 
ings endured and the privations experienced by the inhabitants of 
Fredericksburg, up to this period, whether that idea was formed 
from observation, from reading the narratives or from their rehear- 
sals by those who experienced them, it might appear that their cup 
of sorrow was full even to overflowing, and from further troubles 
and trials they might be exempted. But not so. Probably the 
worst was yet to come; but they firmly believed that the same 
patriotic devotion to the cause they had espoused, and the same 
fidelity to principle which enabled them to "bear the spoiling of 
their goods" with composure in the past, would sustain them in 
any additional trials and sacrifices they might have to endure in 
the future. Patriotic, self sacrificing and confiding in the right, 
they were prepared for the worst, and the worst came. 

On taking possession of Fredericksburg the Federal soldiers 
abandoned themselves to pillage and destruction. They entered 
the stores and dwellings, forcing their way where force was neces- 
sary, rifling them of all that they wanted of their contents and de- 
stroying those things that they could not remove. China and glass- 
ware were broken up and scattered promiscuously; silverware was 
carried away, books and family pictures were mutilated and de- 
stroyed; furniture was cut up or broken up and converted into 
fire-wood, beds, bedclothing and wearing apparel were destroyed 
or carried off, and the residences were left despoiled of their con- 
tents. In the three days they occupied the town they made the 
destruction complete. But it is a gratification, even to those who 
suffered by this occupation, to know that the commanders were not 
to blame for the sacking of the town. It was the work, so it is 

[ 90 ] 



History of Fredericlsburg^ Virginia 91 

asserted, of stragglers and camp followers^ — the most detestable and 
destructive scabs of an army. 

On Friday, the 12th of December, the Union army was drawn 
up in line of battle, prepared to advance. Not less than sixty 
thousand men were on the south bank of the river, with more than 
a hundred pieces of artillery. Near the mouth of Deep Eun there 
were probably as many more ready for the final charge. The Con- 
federate army was confronting them in a line extending from Fall 
Hill to Hamilton's Crossing, between six and seven miles in length. 
At one o'clock the heavy batteries on each side opened, and for an 
hour kept up a brilliant duel of shell and round shot. On the 
morning of Saturday, the 13th of December, a dense fog hung over 
the river and the adjoining fields. Under its cover the Federal 
army advanced. By eight o'clock it was in position and the dread- 
ful conflict began. 

Line after line of battle advanced on the Confederate position, at 
the stone wall at the foot of Marye's Heights, to be repulsed with 
great slaughter. This was kept up without cessation, ' charge after 
charge, as rapidly as they could reform the men, from eight o'clock 
in the morning until four o'clock in the afternoon, when one des- 
perate charge, with troops ew masse, was made all along the line in 
front of the stone wall, accompanied by the most terrific fire of 
artillery. In this last and grandest effort, the men, marching to 
death and destruction through an open field, got within twenty- 
five yards of the stone wall, notwithstanding the deadly aim of the 
Confederate infantry behind it and the destructive fire of the artil- 
lery on the heights above, so skillfully arranged by General E. P. 
Alexander. 

It was a sublime spectacle, and the gallantry of both officers and 
men won the admiration of the commanders on both sides, Lieute- 
nant-General Longstreet, on the Confederate side, declaring that 
such gallant conduct deserved success. But success was not to be 
theirs. The gallant charges of the Federals were met with that 
undaunted coolness and courage so characteristic of the Confederate 
soldier, and a disastrous Federal defeat was the result. The fight- 
ing was the most desperate that had been witnessed up to that time. 



93 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

and the Union loss was very great, being nearly fifty per cent, of 
the numbers engaged. The battle-field was covered with the dead, 
wounded and dying, and it is related by those behind the stone 
wall that all during the night the most piteous groans and cries, 
for water of the wounded could be heard, but no relief could be 
afforded, although the Confederates deeply sympathized with 
them.* Thus ended the battle of Fredericksburg, fought, it is 
claimed, against the judgment and advice of every corps com- 
mander in the army who refused to renew the attack next day, 
although it was the desire of Gen. Burnside'to do so. 

THE PEDERALS EECROSS THE RIVER. 

On Monday night, December the 15th, General Burnside with- 
drew his army across the river and removed his pontoons. The 
citizens returned to their houses, to find them stripped of every- 
thing that was left in them. What could not be carried away was 
broken up and destroyed. Private residences, orphan asylums, 
church buildings and lodges of benevolent and charitable institu- 
tions, all fared alike. Not only were the residences of the refugees 
deprived of everything left in them, but the returning citizens were 
without money and food. They were in a destitute condition, and, 
between the two great armies, with no prospect of relief, unless it 

* It is said ttiat just soutti of the Stevens house, about a hundred yards in 
front of the Confederate line, lay a wounded Union soldier on the night of the 
13th. His supply of water gave out. Just before daylight he began to call for 
water. The cry was incessant. Both lines could hear him, but no one seemed 
willing to venture to his relief. As the day dawned he seemed to cry louder — 
water, water, water ; but none came. Among those who heard him, and whose 
heart was touched with pity, was a Confederate youth, yet in his teens. He 
determined to answer the call or die in the attempt ; and so informed Gen. 
Kershaw, his commander, who tried to dissuade him from it. But his purpose 
was fixed, and it is said that just as "the sun was gilding the blue arch above 
with his golden beams," this youth took his canteen, filled with water, jumped 
over the stone wall, and, with form bending low, carried it to the sufferer. Just 
as the deed was accomplished a yell of approval went up from both Confederate 
and Union lines, such as was never heard before, and which was repeated time 
and again. The boy soldier did not have to bend his form in returning to his 
post. He went back a hero, and a good Samaritan, proclaimed such by both 
armies, and he has since been immortalized in verse. That youth was Richard 
Kirkland, of Co. E. 2nd S. C. Vol. He has a memorial stone in the Church of 
the Prince of Peace at Gettysburg, and the inscription : A hero of benevolence ; 
at the risk of his life he gave his enemy drink at Fredericksburg. He was 
killed at Chickamauga. • 




Gen. Hugh Mercer's Monument on Washington avenue. 
(See page 162) 




Old Stone House near Free Bridge. Supposed to have been a 

tobacco warehouse before the Revolutionary War. 

(See page 47) 



-# 



;."' '4' 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 93 

came from friends in the way of a contribution. It was at this 
critical period that the appeal, made but a few days before, brought 
to them relief in the way of money and supplies. The contribu- 
tions in money amounted to $164,169.45, and the provisions were 
ample to relieve the present needs. Thus the wants of the destitute 
of the town were supplied and untold suffering prevented. 

A GKEAT REVIVAL OF EELIGION". 

From the first of January to the second day of June, 1862, Gen- 
eral Barksdale's brigade, that had guarded the banks of the river 
from the arrival of the Confederate army at this point to the great 
battle of the 13th of December, was quartered in town for picket 
and provost guard duty. About the first of April, 1863, one of the 
most remarkable and successful religious revivals took place here 
that was known to that generation. The dangers and hardships 
of war were to yield for a time for the comforts of religion. The 
services were commenced in the Presbyterian church by Eev. Wm. 
B. Owens, Dr. J. A. Hackett, Eev. E. McDaniel and Eev. W. T. 
West, chaplains in the brigade, aided by Eev. John L. Pettigrew, 
then a private soldier in Company A, Thirteenth Mississippi regi- 
ment, but afterwards appointed to a chaplaincy in a North Carolina 
regiment. Mr. Owens, a Methodist minister, had charge of the 
services, and for some reason the meetings were transferred from 
the Presbyterian church to the Southern Methodist church, then 
standing on the corner of Charles and George streets, where Mr. P. 
V. D. Conway's residence now stands. 

The interest in the meetings deepened, their influence spread to 
the adjoining camps,* and the congregations became so large that 
they could not find standing room in the building. To accom- 
modate these rapidly-increasing crowds, Eev. A. M. Eandolph, then 
rector, tendered the use of St. George's church, which was gladly 
accepted, and the services were conducted there until the close of 
the meeting, in the latter part of May. Before the close, this re- 
vival attracted the attention of the leading ministers of nearly all 
denominations, many of whom came to the assistance of Mr. Owens 



• See Christ in the Camp, by Rev. J. Wm. Jones, Tf. D. 



94 History of FredericJcshurg , Virginia 

and his co-workers. Among those who were at times present, 
preached and rendered valuable assistance, were Eev. J. C. Stiles, 
D. D., Eev. Wm. J. Hoge, D. D., Eev. James D. Coulling, Eev. 
James A. Duncan, D. D., Eev. J. Lansing Burrows,. D. D., Eev. 
Alfred E. Dickinson, D. D., and Eev. W. H. Carroll. During the 
meeting more than five hundred soldiers, most of whom belonged 
to Barksdale's brigade, were converted and united with churches of 
the various Christian denominations. 

Of this wonderful religious awakening, Eev. Dr. Wm. J. Hoge 
wrote to the Southern Presbyterian as follows : "We found our 
soldiers at Fredericksburg all alive with animation. A rich bless- 
ing had been poured upon the labors of Brother Owens, Methodist 
chaplain in Barksdale's brigade. The Eev. Dr. Burrows, of the 
Baptist church, Eichmond, had just arrived, expecting to labor with 
him some days. As I was to stay but one night, Dr. Burrows in- 
sisted on my preaching. So we had a Presbyterian sermon, intro- 
duced by Baptist services, under the direction of a Methodist chap- 
lain, in an Episcopal church ! Was not that a beautiful solution of 
the vexed problem of Christian union ?" 

Mr. Owens, who worked so faithfully in the great meeting at 
Fredericksburg, endeared himself to all who had the pleasure of 
attending the services. On his return to his Mississippi home, at 
the close of the war, he at once entered upon his work as a travel- 
ling minister, and was drowned while attempting to cross a swollen 
stream on horseback, endeavoring to reach one of his preaching 
stations. 

GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK TAKES THE TOWN. 

ChancellorsviUe campaign. 

In the Spring of 1863, as soon as the roads began to dry off, the 
armies were put in readiness to move, preparatory to another great 
battle. General Joseph Hooker, known as "Fighting Joe Hooker," 
had succeded General Ambrose E. Burnside in the command of the 
Army of the Potomac, which he claimed was the finest army on the 
planet. His desire was to reach Eichmond, which his predecessors, 
General McDowell, General McClellan, General Pope and General 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 95 

Bumside, had failed to do. Accordingly, about the last of April, 
detaching General John Sedgwick, with twenty-two thousand 
men, to threaten General Lee's rear at Fredericksburg, he crossed 
his army at the several fords of the Eappahannock river above town 
and concentrated it at Chancellorsville. His plan seems to have 
been to turn General Lee's right flank with the forces under General 
Sedgwick, double back his left flank with the corps under General 
Howard, and then, with the forces of General Crouch and General 
Meade, make a bold and desperate dash against the center, crush it 
and capture the entire army of his adversary. This accomplished, 
Kichmond would be an easy prey. 

But while General Hooker was moving to execute his plans, 
General Lee had the Army of Northern Virginia in motion, and 
when General Hooker reached Chancellorsville he found to his great 
astonishment, the Confederate army in his front and prepared to 
dispute his advance. Skirmishers were thrown out by both armies 
and soon the engagement of May the 2nd and 3rd commenced. On 
the morning of the 2nd General Stonewall Jackson commenced his 
famous flank movement that has been the study and wonder of mili- 
tary men of this and other countries, which resulted in a great dis- 
aster to the Federal army and a great calamity to the Southern 
cause. General Hooker was badly defeated and driven in haste 
from the field, but General Jackson lay mortally wounded. Of that 
attack and result Ave use in substance the language of General Lee 
in his official report of the Battle of Chancellorsville.* After a 
long and fatiguing march. General Jackson's leading division, under 
General Eodes, reached old turnpike, about three miles in the rear 
of Chancellorsville, at four in the afternoon. As the different 
divisions arrived they were formed at right angles with the road — 
Eodes in front, Trible's division, under Brigadier-General E. E. 
Colston, in the second, and General A. P. Hill's in the third line. 

At six o'clock the advance was ordered. The enemy were taken 
by surprise and fled after a brief resistance. General Eodes's men 
pushed forward with great vigor and enthusiasm, followed closely 
by the second and third lines. Position after position was carried, 



• See War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Vol. 25, Part 1, page 798. 



9G History of Frederichshurg , Virginia 

the gims captured, and eveiy effort of the enemy to rally defeated 
by the impetuous rush of our troops. In the ardor of pursuit 
through the thick and tangled woods, the first and second lines at 
last became mingled and moved on together as one. The enemy 
made a stand at a line of breastworks across the road at the house 
of Melzi Chancellor, but the troops of Kodes and Colston dashed 
over the entrcncliments together and the flight and pursuit were re- 
sumed and continued until our advance was arrested by the abatis 
in front of the line of works near the central position at Chancel- 
lorsville. 

It was now dark, and General Jackson ordered the third line, 
under General Hill, to advance to the front and relieve the troops 
of Rodes and Colston, who were completely blended, and in such 
disorder, from their rapid advance through intricate woods and 
over broken ground, that it was necessary to reform them. As 
General Hill's men moved forward. General Jackson, with his staff 
and escort, returning from the extreme front, met his skirmishers 
advancing, and in the obscurity of the night were taken for the 
enemy and fired upon. Captain J. K. Boswell, chief engineer of 
the corps and several others were killed and a number wounded. 
General Jackson himself received a severe injury and was borne 
fi'om tlio field. lie was taken to the Chandler house, at Guiney's 
station, in Caroline county, whore, notwithstanding everything pos- 
sible was done for hira that loving hearts could do or medical skill 
could suggest, he died on the 91h of May. Amid the sorrow and 
tears of the Southern peoj)le he was laid to rest at his home in 
Lexington, Virginia. 

General Jubal A. Early had been left at Fredericksburg to watch 
General Sedgwielc, and had been instructed, in the event of the 
enemy withdrawing from his front and moving up the river, to 
join the main body of the army. This order was repeated on the 
2nd, but by some mistake General Early was directed to move un- 
conditionally. Leaving Hays's brigade and one regiment of Barks- 
dale's at Fredericksburg, he moved with the rest of his command 
towards Chancellorsville. As soon as his withdrawal was perceived 
the enemy began to advance, and General Early returned to his 
original position. 



History of Fredericlcsburg , Virginia 97 

The line to be defended by Barksdale's brigade extended from the 
Eappahannock, above Fredericksburg, to the rear of Howison's 
house, a distance of more than two miles. The artillery was posted 
along the heights in rear of the town. 

Before dawn on the morning of the 3rd General Barksdale re- 
ported to General Early that the enemy had occupied Fredericks- 
burg in large force and had bridged the Eappahannock river, 
Hays's brigade was sent to his support, and placed on his extreme 
left, with the exception of one regiment, stationed on the right of 
his line behind the Howison house. Seven companies of the Twen- 
ty-first Mississippi regiment were posted by General Barksdale be- 
tween the Marye house and the Plank road, the Eighteenth and the 
three other companies of the Twenty-first occupied the Telegraph 
road, behind the stone wall, at the foot of Marye's Hill, the two 
remaining regiments of the brigade being farther to the right on 
the hills near Howison's house. The enemy made a demonstration 
against the extreme right, which was easily repulsed by General 
Early. Soon afterward a column moved from Fredericksburg 
along the river bank as if to gain the heights on the extreme left, 
which commanded those immediately in rear of the town. This 
attempt was foiled by General Hays and the arrival of Gen- 
oral Wilcox from Banks's Ford, who deployed a few skirm- 
ishers on the hill near Dr.- Taylor's house and opened on the enemy 
with a section of artillery. Very soon the enemy advanced in large 
force against Marye's Heights and the hills to the right and left. 
Two assaults were gallantly repulsed by Barksdale's men and the 
artillery. After the second, a flag of truce, it was claimed, was sent 
from the town to obtain permission to provide for the wounded, 
which was granted. 

At the end of the truce three heavy lines advanced and renewed 
tlie attack. They were bravely repulsed on the right and left, but 
the small force at the foot of Marye's Hill, overpowered by more 
than ten times their numbers, was captured after a heroic resistance, 
and the Heights carried. Eight pieces of artillery were taken on 
Marye's and the adjacent heights. The remainder of Barksdale's 
brigade, together with that of General Hays, and the artillery on the 
7 



98 History of Frederichsburg, Yirginia 

right, retired down the Telegraph road. The success of the enemy 
enabled him to threaten Gen. Lee's communications by moving down 
the telegraph road, or gain his rear at Chancellorsville by the Plank 
road. He at first advanced on the Telegraph road, but was checked 
by General Early, who had halted the brigades of Barksdale and 
Hays with the artillery, about two miles from Marye's Hill, and re- 
enforced them with three regiments of General John B. Gordon's 
brigade. The enemy then began to advance up the Plank road, his 
progress being gallantly disputed by the brigade of General Cadmus 
M. Wilcox, who had moved from Banks's Ford as rapidly as possi- 
ble to the assistance of General Barksdale, but arrived too late to 
take part in the action. General Wilcox fell back slowly until he 
reached Salem church, on the Plank road, about four miles from 
Fredericksburg. 

Information of the state of affairs in our rear having reached 
Chancellorsville, General McLaws, with his three brigades and one 
of General Anderson's, was ordered to reinforce General Wilcox. 
He arrived at Salem church early in the afternoon, where he found 
General Wilcox in line of battle, with a large force of the enemy — 
consisting, as was reported, of one army corps and part of another, 
under Major-General Sedgwick — in his front. The brigades of 
General Kershaw and General Wofford were placed on the right of 
General Wilcox and those of Semmes and Mahone on the left. The 
enemy's artillery played vigorously upon our position for some time, 
when his infantry advanced in three strong lines, the attack being 
directed mainly against General Wilcox, but partially involving the 
brigades on his left. 

The assault was met with the utmost firmness, and after a fierce 
struggle the first line Avas repulsed with STeat slaughter. The 
second then came forward, but immediately broke under the close 
and deadly fire which it encountered, and the whole mass fled in 
confusion to the rear. They were pursued by the brigades of Gen- 
eral Wilcox and General Semmes, in the direction of Banks's Ford, 
where the enemy crossed to the Stafford side of the river. 

The next morning General Early advanced along the Telegraph 
road and recaptured Marye's Heights and the adjacent hills without 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 99 

difficulty. General Barksdale's brigade entered the town, to find 
the enemy gone, with the exception of some stragglers who had 
secreted themselves in cellars and elsewhere about town. These 
were captured and sent to the rear, and the brigade took up its 
former quarters in the town, where it remained until the first of 
June. 

After some four weeks of rest and reorganization the army was 
again put in motion, the object of Gen. Lee being the invasion of 
Pennsylvania. After the removal of the army Fredericksburg was 
left practically without any armed troops, and soon relapsed into 
her usual quiet, so characteristic of the place. This condition of 
things existed until the return of the army from its invasion in the 
Fall, when the town was occasionally visited by scouting cavalry 
from the Confederate army, the main body of the troops camping 
west of Fredericksburg. 

GEisr. grant's army IjST possession. 
The Wilderness Campaign. 

With the opening of the Spring of 1864, was inaugurated the 
most active and bloody campaign of the war in Virginia. This 
battle embraces those of Mine Eun, the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, 
the Po, the ISTy and those around Spotsylvania Courthouse, in which 
both armies, the Confederate, under General Eobert E. Lee, and the 
Federal, under General Ulysses S. Grant, lost heavily. Many 
thousands of the wounded Federals were sent in ambulances and 
wagons to Fredericksburg, where hospitals were established, under 
the charge of United States surgeons. Every house in the town 
that was at all available was converted into a hospital. Eesidences, 
stores, churches and lodge rooms were all occupied by the wounded 
and the surgeons were kept busy day and night. As fast as the 
wounded could be moved they were sent north, and others were 
brought from the battle-fields. This was kept up from the time the 
battles commenced, on the 4th of May, until they closed, on the 
20th of May, the first batch reaching town with their authorized 
attendants on the 9th of May. 
. On Sunday, the 8th, a small body of Federal troops, numbering 



100 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

about sixty, most of them slightly wounded, came into town. They 
were armed, and the citizens demanded their surrender as prisoners 
of war. This demand was acceded to and they were delivered 
over to the Confederate military authorities at the nearest post, 
from which they were sent to Eichmond. This action of the citi- 
zens was regarded by the Federal authorities as a violation of law, 
and the arrest of an equal number of citizens was ordered by the 
Federals, that they might be held as hostages until these Union 
soldiers were released and returned. 

This order caused great consternation in town. No one could 
foretell the fate of those arrested and the worst for them was feared. 
Many of the male citizens sought hiding places, but quite a number 
made no effort to escape or elude the officers, as they did not con- 
sider they had done any wrong — certainly no intentional wrong — 
and they were willing to abide the consequences until an impartial 
investigation was made, when they believed they would be exon- 
erated from any crime. In the execution of this order, sixty-two 
citizens were arrested and carried to Washington, ten of whom were 
there liberated and the remaining fifty-two were sent to Fort Dela- 
ware. Afterwards five other citizens were arrested and sent to the 
same larison. 

The families of these citizens were almost frantic at being thus 
deprived of their protectors, while the town was overrun by Federal 
soldiers, many of them stragglers, without any one to restrain them, 
and others brought here from the Wilderness and other battle-fields, 
wounded and dying, their groans and shrieks filling the air. Ko 
one can imagine the distressing scenes enacted in town about this 
time who did not witness them, or form any conception of the terri- 
ble ordeal through which these helpless families passed save those 
who shared their privations and sufferings. 

The town had been the scene of a bombardment unparalleled; 
two fearful battles had been fought here, with their accompanying 
destruction of property and consumption of food and family sup- 
plies; the town had been in possession of both armies at different 
times; therefore these families were destitute of food and the 
comforts of life, and now comes the order for the arrest and impris- 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 101 

onment of those whom God had given them to protect and provide 
for them. Notwithstanding the intense excitement of the people 
of the town, and the sufferings and entreaties of the bereaved ones, 
it was thought prudent to defer public action until further de- 
velopments, in the hope that the prisoners would be released and 
allowed to return to their homes. 

Having impatiently awaited the release of the prisoners, and their 
hopes not being realized, on the 31st of May a meeting of the Com- 
mon Council was called, and upon assembling the Mayor informed 
the body that the object of the meeting was to take some steps for 
the relief of those citizens who had been arrested and who were then 
suffering in prison at Fort Delaware. A jDaper was submitted b}'' 
Mr. Wm. A. Little, which was unanimously adopted, looking to 
their release. As the paper contains the views of the citizens of 
Fredericksburg, with reference to the arrest of the Federal soldiers, 
and also the names of the citizens arrested, it is here copied in full,, 
as follows : 

Feedericksbueg, Va., May 31st, 1864. 

To the Honoratle James A. Seddon, 

Secretary of War of the Co7ifederate States, 
Ric h m n d, Virg in ia. 

At a meeting of the Mayor and Common Council of Fredericks- 
burg, Virginia, held this 31st of May, 1864, a committee of two 
citizens, to wit : Montgomery Slaughter and John F. Scott, were 
appointed to repair to Eichmond and present to you the following' 
statement and application. 

Statement. 

On Sunday, the 8th instant, a number of slightly-wounded and 
straggling Federal soldiers, who entered the town, many of them 
with arms in their hands, and with the capacity and intention, we 
feared, of doing mischief in the way of pillage and injury to our 
people, who were unprotected by any military force, were arrested 
bv order of our municipal authorities and forwarded to the nearest 
military post as prisoners of war, under the guard of citizens. These. 



102 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

prisoners amounted to about sixty men, of whom but few are said 
to have been slightly wounded. In retaliation of this act, the pro- 
vost marshal, under orders from the Secretary of War at Washing- 
ton, arrested on the 20th instant some sixty of our citizens and for- 
warded them to Washington, to be held as hostages for said pris- 
oners. Ten of the citizens were afterwards released in Washing- 
ton, and have returned to their homes, leaving some fifty-one 
citizens still in confinement, who have been sent to the military 
prison at Fort Delaware. 

In behalf of these unfortunate people, who are thus made to 
suffer so seriously, and for their suffering families who are thus left 
without their natural protectors, and many of them without their 
means of support, we appeal to you to take such steps as may be 
proper and in accordance with military regulations to return the 
said prisoners to the Federal authorities and thus secure the release 
of our citizens. Surely the matter of a few prisoners cannot be 
allowed to interfere with the humane and generous work of restor- 
ing to these desolated homes, and these mourning women and 
children, the only source of comfort which the fate of war has left 
them in this war-ravaged and desolated town, the presence of those 
loved ones who are separated from them and imprisoned at Fort 
Delaware. The following is a list of the citizens arrested and car- 
ried to Washington as aforesaid : 

James H. Bradley, Thomas F. Knox, James McGuire, Councellor 
Cole, Michael Ames, John G. Hurkamp, John J. Chew, George H. 
Peyton, Wm. H. Thomas, John D. Elder, who were released at 
Washington. 

F. B. Chewning, E. B. Eennolds, James B. Marye, George Aler, 
Charles Mander,* Benjamin F. Currell, John L. Knight, Wm. C. 
Smith, Joseph W. Sener, E. W, Stephens, Charles Cash, Charles B. 
Waite, Charles G. Waite, Jr., George W. Wroten,* Thomas New- 
ton, Eobert H. Alexander, Eobert Smith, Lucien Love, George P. 
Sacrey, Henry M. Towles, Landon J. Huffman, Lewis Moore, John 
T. Evans, Walter Bradshaw, Samuel D. Curtis, Lewis Wrenn, Wm, 
White, John Solan, George W. Eve, James Mazeen, Abraham Cox, 

* still living. 




Birthplace of Hon. John Forsythe, the brilliant Georgia Statesman. 

(See page 154) 




The "Sentry Box," the home of Gen. Hugh Mercer; now the resi- 
dence of O. D. Foster, Esq. 
(See page 150) 



History of Fredericlcshurg, Virginia 103 

Wm. Brannan, James A. Turner, A. E. Samuel, Tandy Williams, 
Eobert S. Parker, Christopher Eeintz, Thomas F. Coleman, Patrick 
McDonnell, Charles Williams, Wm. Cox, Walter M. Mills, Thomas 
S. Thornton, John Joyce,* John Miner, Eicharcl Hudson, Wm. B. 
Webb, Alexander Armstrong, Wm. Wiltshire, Gabriel Johnston, 
George Mullin, William Burke. 

The following citizens were arrested subsequently and are still 
held by the Federal authorities: Wm. Lange, Thomas Manuell, 
Joseph Hall, Wm. W. Jones, Wyatt Johnson. 

The committee appointed by the Council proceeded to Eichmond 
and laid the matter before the Secretary of War, and, on their re- 
turn home, reported to the Council in writing. This report was 
filed, but was, not entered upon the records of the Council, and, 
from indications as shown by subsequent entries in the Council 
proceedings, the committee appointed Mr. George H. C. Eowe to 
visit Washington, interview the Federal authorities and ascertain 
what could be done. Some of the members of the Council claimed 
that this action of the committee was without authority, as the 
appointment should have been m.ade by the Council itself and not 
by the committee of the Council. This claim was, no doubt, well 
founded, and the action of the committee may have been a stretch 
of its authority, but their great anxiety to have these gentlemen 
released from prison and have them restored to their families and 
friends, was a sufficient explanation and apology, if such had been 
needed, for their action, independent of the Council. And further- 
more, the propriety of, and authority for, this action of the com- 
mittee may be explained, if not justified, by the fact that one of 
the committeemen was the Mayor and executive officer of the town 
and the other one was a leading member of the Common Council. 

But be that as it may, Mr. Eowe proceeded to Washington, and 
on his return, on the 20th of June, made a report of his visit to the 
Council, stating that he was well received by the Federal authorities 



*An amusing incident is told of Mr. Joyce when he was arrested. He is a 
native of Ireland, as every one will reaaily perceive when he hears him 
speak. When arrested he was asked in a brusque tone by the officer — "Where 
are you from?" He replied instantly: "De Jasus, oim a Virginnyan, and niver 
denoi the place of moi netivity." 



104 History of Frederichs'burg, Virginia 

and was assured by the Secretar}^ of War that the exchange could be 
effected. Mr. Rowe further stated that the proposition made by 
the Secretary of War was that the Federal prisoners should be re- 
leased and placed in his care, and he be permitted to take them 
through their lines with the assurance that the citizen prisoners 
would be turned over to him. Mr. Rowe concluded his report as 
follows :* 

"This proposition, it seems to me, obviates all difficulties of 
misconstruction, and I will undertake the delivery and receipt of 
the prisoners at Alexandria. It is proper to state that in 1862, 
I undertook and executed, a similar Commission of exchange of 
citizens Captured, with success, and thorough satisfaction to our 
Govermnent,f and I am sure with its assent and cooperation as 
proposed, I will now reap a similar result." 

Upon the reception of this report by the Council Mayor Slaugh- 
ter and Mr. Rowe were appointed a commission to visit Richmond 
and secure the release of the Federal prisoners, and, when so re- 
leased, the commission was authorized to do what might be neces- 
sary to effect the final exchange. On their arrival in Richmond 
they called on the Confederate authorities and stated the terms of 
agreement, and through their solicitation the folloAving order was 
issued by Colonel Robert Ould, the Confederate commissioner of 
exchange of prisoners : 

"Richmond, Va., June 23rd, 1864. 

Brigadier General M. M. Gardner — Sir: I will thank you to 
deliver to M. Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, fifty-six Federal 
Soldiers (privates) who are to be exchanged for an equal number 
of our people, captured in Fredericksburg. I will thank you also 
to furnish M. Slaughter the necessary gaiard, &c., for their trans- 
portation to Fredericksburg. Please send two or three surgeons 
with the party. 

Resp'y yr Obt. Sert., 

R. Ould, Agt." 



♦ See Council proceedings, June 20, 1864. 

f That record not found. Mr. Rowe must have assisted Rev. Wm. F. Broad- 
dus, D. D., in the release of the nineteen citizen prisoners. 



History of Frcdcnchsburg, Virginia 105 

The issuance of this order, with the previous assurance of the 
Federal authorities, encouraged and rejoiced the hearts of all inter- 
ested parties. The mourning changed to rejoicing, and nothing 
now remained to complete the joy but the presence of the loved 
ones, who yet lingered in prison. An order was at once issued by 
the Common Council authorizing Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Eowe to 
procure all the necessary transportation and make proper arrange- 
ments for the exchange and effect the release of the imprisoned citi- 
zens as speedily as possible. From the final report, made on the 
subject, it appears that the whole matter of making the exchange of 
prisoners was turned over to Mr. Eowe. On his return from AVash- 
ington he reported the transactions in full to the Council, on 
the Sth of July, in the following words :* 

"I have the honor to report that I reached the military lines 
of the United States in safety with the fifty-six prisoners of war 
and four civil officers of the so-called State of West Virginia, com- 
mitted to my charge by the corporation authorities, to be exchanged 
for the captive citizens of Fredericksburg. After some difficulty 
in obtaining personal access to the authorities at Washington, and 
several days' discussion there, I succeeded in closing a negotiation 
that the Federal prisoners delivered by me should be released from 
their paroles simultaneously with the delivery of fifty-three captive 
citizens of Fredericksburg, and seven Confederate prisoners of war, 
on board of a flag of truce steamer, with transportation to Split 
Eock, on the Potomac river. 

"In execution of this obligation the Federal authorities delivered 
to me, on board the Steamer Weycomoke, whence they were landed 
at Split Eock on yesterday, forty-nine citizens and two prisoners of 
war, according to the roll which accompanies this report, marked 
A.f The four citizens and five prisoners of war still due, I have solid 
assurances will be forwarded by the same route at an early day." 

At the conclusion of Mr. Eowe's report, on motion made by Mr. 
John James Young, the Council unanimously adopted the follow- 
ing resolution : 

"That the thanks of this body be tendered to Mr. Eowe for the 



* From Council proceedings of July 8, 1864. 
f Not found in the Council proceedings. 



106 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

energetic and efficient manner in which he has effected the exchange 
of Federal prisoners for our captive citizens." 

Having been set at liberty at Split Eock, on the banks of the 
Potomac river, the march to Fredericksburg was soon commenced. 
Some few of the party, and especially the sick, were fortunate 
enough to have carriages sent for them, some got seats in wagons, 
but a large majority of them made the journey on foot, and were 
delighted at the privilege of doing so. The distance is about twelve 
miles. It is unnecessary to attempt (for we could not if we did) to 
describe the scene upon the arrival of these unfortunate ones to 
their homes and families. It is sufficient to say they reached home 
in safety amidst the shouts of welcome and the rejoicing of the 
inhabitants of the town, the returned prisoners joining in the re- 
frain, bearing testimony to the truth of Payne's declaration, 
"There's no place like home." 

The small batch of wounded and straggling Federal soldiers, who 
were arrested by the citizens on the 8th of May, was followed next 
day and the succeeding days, until there were in the different im- 
provised hospitals in town about fifteen thousand sick and wounded 
soldiers. They were attended by a large body of surgeons and as- 
sistants of every kind, including nurses. The native population of 
the town at this time was small, and consisted entirely of women, 
children and elderly men. Even the colored population had be- 
come very much reduced. 

The sudden increase of the population by the advent of this 
large number of sick and wounded soldiers, and their numerous 
attendants, caused great suffering and distress, and during this 
occupation by the wounded, the suffering, disease and sorrow en- 
dured by the people of Fredericksburg were greater than any that 
had previously visited them. But notwithstanding this, and not- 
withstanding the harsh and cruel treatment they received at the 
hands of General Pope and his subordinates, truth demands the 
record and admission that these scenes of horror were greatly 
mitigated by many acts of courtesy and considerate aid on the part 
of the Federal officers stationed here, which even now are kindly 
remembered and spoken of by many of our citizens who were par- 
ticipants in the scenes referred to above. 



CHAPTEE VIII 

The Armies Transferred to Richmond and Petersburg — Gen. Lee's 
surrender — Citizens Return Home — Action of the Council — 
Frederichshurg Again Under the Old Flag — The Assassina- 
tion of President Lincoln Denounced and Deplored — Recon- 
struction Commenced — An Election Set Aside — The Iron- 
Clad Oath — All Offices Vacated and Strangers Appointed — 
The Financial Condition of the Town — The Toiun Again in 
the Hands of its Citizens — Splendid Financial Shelving, &c. 

At the conclusion of the battles around Spotsylvania, during 
which time Fredericksburg was the base of supplies for the Federal 
ami}'-, the two armies moved south and the scenes of war were trans- 
ferred from Fredericksburg to Eichmond and Petersburg. From 
the time the main armies moved south to the close of the war 
Fredericksburg was first in the Federal lines and then in the Con- 
federate lines. After the base of supplies for the Union army was 
moved from Fredericksburg to City Point about the only troops 
that visited the town were scouting or raiding parties, and be it 
said to their credit very little damage to property was done by them. 
Communication was kept up all the time with Eichmond and the 
citizens were not without hope that the Federal army would be 
driven back and the scenes of war transferred to other parts. But 
these hopes were delusive. General Grant was constantly receiving 
reinforcements, until he had over 200,000 men, by which he was 
enabled to extend his lines, while General Lee's small army, not ex- 
ceeding 45,000 men, was becoming smaller and his lines of battle 
thinner by reason of casualties, resulting from daily engagements 
with the enemy. In consequence of this he was unable to hold his 
long lines against the vigorous attacks of General Grant. 

About the first of April General Lee suffered several reverses on 
his extreme right, which resulted in turning his right flank on the 
2nd of April. On the morning of the 3rd he commenced the eva- 
cuation of Eichmond, abandoned his entire line in front of Peters- 
burg and retreated in the direction of Danville. The overwhelm- 
ing numbers of Grant against him made his retreat very difficult 

[ 107 ] 



108 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

and enabled the Federals to harass him on every side. When Gen- 
eral Lee reached Burkeville he found the Federals between him and 
Danville, his objective point, and it became necessary for him to 
change the direction of his column. There was but one way open 
for him and that was the road to Lynchburg. But this road was 
soon closed. At the battle of Sailors' Creek, near Farmville, on 
the 6th of April, the Confederates lost over six thousand men and 
several general officers. From the result of this engagement it was 
plainly seen that the end had come. By fighting in the day and 
marching at night General Lee reached Appomattox Courthouse on 
the 9th, with what few soldiers he had left, broken down from hun- 
ger and marching, his horses jaded and unable to do their work, 
and his artillery and wagon trains were falling an easy prey to the 
pursuing army. Although the m.en's courage never failed them, in 
the condition in which Gen. Lee found himself, there was nothing 
to do but to surrender. General Grant had already communicated 
with him and demanded his surrender, upon the ground that he 
could not longer resist, but he had not felt a willingness to yield 
until the morning of the 9th. 

On that eventful morning General Lee opened communication 
with General Grant and invited a conference, to discuss the terms 
of surrender. They met, it is said, under an apple tree and ad- 
journed to the residence of Mr. Wilmer McLane,* where the terms 
were agreed upon, written out and signed. It was from this build- 
ing that General Lee mounted old Traveller,! to return to his lines 
to announce the sad news to the remaining remnant of his once 

* Mr. McLane's residence was in the midst of tlie first battle between the two 
great armies, and, strange to say, it was in the midst of tlie last and that the 
terms of surrender were written and signed in liis residence. When the war 
broke out Mr. McLane was living in Prince William county, and at the first 
battle of Manassas his residence was in the thickest of the fight. He after- 
wards moved to Appomattox county to get out of the reach of the war. During 
the last engagement of the two armies his residence was between the lines, and 
when General Lee and General Grant met they asked for a room in the house, 
which was furnished them, and there the terms of surrender were written and 
signed. 

f Traveller was General Lee's war horse. Every soldier in the army knew 
him. At the death of this faithful old horse, that had carried General Lee 
through the war, he was turned over to the taxidermist, who prepared and 
mounted him. He is now at the Soldiers' Home in Richmond, looking as 
natural and life-like as when he bore the Confederate Chieftain into battle, or 
when he moved in General Lee's funeral procession, fully equipped for the 
march, but without his accustomed rider. 



History of Frederichshurg , Virginia 109 

magnificent army. General Hooker declared the army of the 
Potomac, prior to his move to Chancellorsville, "the grandest army 
on the planet/' but more than one of the Federal generals of high 
rank, who served in the Army of the Potomac, have since the war 
declared "that for sacrifice, suffering and for fighting qualities the 
world could not surpass the Army of Korthern Virginia." 

The terms of the surrender were liberal, even generous, and bore 
testimony to the affectionate consideration General Lee had for his 
men and the magnanimity of General Grant to those who had 
surrendered their arms. It was agreed that the officers were to give 
their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Govern- 
ment of the United States until properly exchanged, and each com- 
pany or regimental commander was to sign a similar parole for 
their men. The arms, artillery and public property were to be 
stacked and packed and turned over to a United States officer. 
The officers and men were allowed to take their side arms, private 
horses and baggage and return to their homes unmolested and so 
remain as long as they observed their paroles. In addition to this, 
at the suggestion of General Lee, General Grant furnished the 
Confederate army with rations, which they had been without for 
several days. It is said that when it became known by the ad- 
vanced lines of the Federal troops and those of the Confederate 
army that the terms of surrender had been signed and peace was at 
hand, their long pent-up feelings gave way in the loudest tumult of 
rejoicing. 

There was no demand made by General Grant for the surrender 
of General Lee's sword, and there was no offer of the surrender of 
his sword on the part of General Lee. The officers were to retain 
their side arms which included the sword. "The number of men 
j^aroled was about twenty-six thousand, of whom not more than 
nine thousand had arms in their hands. About sixteen thousand 
small arms Avere surrendered, one hundred and fifty cannon, seven- 
ty-one colors, eleven hundred wagons and caissons and four thous- 
and horses and mules. The Confederate troops, immediately upon 
receiving their paroles, separated and returned to their homes."* 



* Blue and Gray. 



110 History of Fredcrichshurg , Virginia 

The scene of separation of soldiers and commanders, who had 
served nearly four years together, and who were linked together 
by the strongest bonds of comradeship, not to say of genuine affec- 
tion, was the saddest and most trying that had ever occurred in the 
past history of the army. Farewells, amid tears and audible sob- 
bing of the brave, rough soldiers, were exchanged and they parted, 
never to meet as soldiers, in arms again ! Before leaving for home, 
however, and as the last act of the closing drama, and the" last act 
of General Lee as the Uommander of the Army of !N'orthern Vir- 
ginia, the day following the surrender he issued a farewell address.* 
The address was printed on slips of paper and distributed to the 
soldiers, who felt unwilling to leave for their homes until they re- 
ceived the parting blessing and loving benediction of their idolized 
commander. 

PREDERICKSBURG AGAIN UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES. 

The first news of General Lee's surrender received at Fredericks- 
burg came from soldiers returning to their desolated homes, and 
Avith the sad tidings came also the feeling that the fate of the 
Confederacy was sealed. The population of Fredericksburg at this 
time had been increased by the' presence of strangers and adven- 



♦ GENERAL LEB'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 

Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 

Appomattox CourtJiouse, April 10, 1865. 

General Orders, No. 9. — After four years of arduous service, marlied by 
unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been 
compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers. 

I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard fought battle- 
fields, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this 
result from no distrust of them, but feeling that valor and devotion could 
accomplish nothing to compensate for the loss that must have attended a con- 
tinuation of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those 
whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. 

By the terms of agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and 
remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds 
from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that 
a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection. With an un- 
ceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a 
grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid 
you all an affectionate farewell. 

R. E. Leb, Oeneral. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 111 

turers. The trade of the town was conducted, to a considerable 
extent, by those who were not permanent residents of the town, and 
there was but little population, business or general appearance to 
remind one of the Fredericksburg of other days. 

But what a change in other respects had come over the town as to 
its character and condition ! For four years it had been a part of 
the Southern Confederacy, and its devotion to the Southern cause 
had been demonstrated time and again by its sacrifices, sufferings 
for and contributions to that cause. Now the collapse of the Con- 
federacy had come and the town was again a part of the United 
States and subject to its laws. The question was what shall be 
done to place the town in its proper position, and who shall take 
that action? That was the question. 

After a conference of the leading citizens of the town it was 
decided that the Council was the only body that could represent the 
people, and that it should be convened to take such steps as might 
be suggested by the proper authorities. This step was deferred, 
however, until the 27th of April, when it was known the Confed- 
erate government had ceased to exist, on which day the Council was 
convened, the following members being present: M. Slaughter, 
Mayor; Wm. A. Little, Eecorder; Charles Hcrndon, George Gra- 
vatt, Joseph W. Sener, Horace B. Hal], Wm. H. Cunningham, 
Charles S. Scott, Beverley T. Gill, John G. Hurkamp, James Mc- 
Guire, John J. Young, Thomas F. Knox, Councilmen. The fol- 
lowing paper was submitted and unanimously adopted: 

"Whereas, this community finds itself, after four years of dis- 
turbing war, all of whose evils and sacrifices they have been called 
upon to endure, subject to the laws of the United States, and under 
the control of its authority; 

And whereas, they are satisfied that the war is at an end, and that 
their interests and duty alike require that they should recognize 
the situation and submit to said authority and laws, and, as quiet 
and orderly citizens, acknowledge the powers that be, and endeavor 
to preserve that character of a law abiding and peaceable com- 
munity, which it has been their purpose to maintain ; 

And whereas further, it is deemed proper that this community 



113 History of FredericTcshurg , Virginia 

should, through their constituted representatives, give expression a 
this time to those views and communicate the same to the United 
States authorities, therefore resolved — 

1. That M. Slaughter, Esq., Mayor, be, and he is, hereby ap- 
pointed a Commissioner to proceed to Eichmond and present a copy 
of these proceedings through General M. R. Patrick to said au- 
thority. 

2. Trusting that as the community and State is in no way respon- 
sible for the causes which led to the revolution and have already 
suffered so seriously during its progress, a magnanimous govern- 
ment will be satisfied with the restoration of its authority, and 
adopt towards us the policy of leniency and reconciliation which 
will tend with the people of Virginia to restore friendly relations, 
soften the asperities and heal the wounds of the past, and enable us 
to resume our former position as peaceful and prosperous citizens 
of Virginia and the United States. 

Eesolved, That the crime of assassination, which has so recently 
deprived the United States oi its President,* has, in all ages and 
countries, received the unqualified detestation of all honorable and 
civilized communities, and that the perpetrator of this crime de- 
serves the utmost punishment of the law and the condemnation" of 
all upright men."f 

This action of the Council was Fredericksburg's declaration of 
her allegiance to the United States, and made her a part of the 
Union, so far as that action could make her. She had passed 
through the fiery furnace of suffering and sacrifice since Virginia 
had withdrawn from the Union, but she hesitated to take any 
action by which her loyalty and devotion to the Confederate States 
could be questioned, and declined to take any steps transferring her 
allegiance to the Union until she knew that the Confederate gov- 
ernment had disbanded and ceased to exist. 

Fredericksburg had suffered as no other town in the South had 
suffered and had sacrificed her all, yet instead of complaining she 



* The assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by 
J Willies Booth on April 14, 1865. 

f See Council proceedings, April 27, 1865. 




Marye's Heights and section of old Stone Wall. These heights 

were crowded with artillery in the battle of 

December 13, 18(52. 

(See page 01) 



L 




Office of "Trustees"of the Town from 1727 to 1781; 

constructed into a residence. 

(See page 153.) 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 113 

showed herself grand in her sufferings and glorious in her sacri- 
fices. There clustered around her hallowed memories, grand his- 
toric events, individual achievements, that, with her war record, im- 
parted to her a beauty and nobili-ty of character that made her 
sublime even in her desolation. 

As time progressed population increased. The old citizens who 
had refugeed returned to their homes ; young and middle-aged men, 
who had faithfully served their country in the army, exchanged 
their weapons of war for the implements of peace, and business be- 
gan to assume its legitimate channels and the old town was well 
nigh restored to its wonted activity and prosperity. The census 
of 1870, very imperfectly taken, gave Fredericksburg at that time 
a population of about four thousand inhabitants. 

RECONSTRUCTION COMMENCED. 

Virginia Military District No. 1 

The period in Virginia known as Eeconstruction, extending from 
the cessation of hostilities, in 1865, to the first day of July, 1870, 
when the officers, elected under the new constitution, assumed their 
places and performed their duties, free of military restraint, was 
one of deep humiliation to the people of Virginia, and especially 
to the citizens of Fredericksburg. Just after the close of the war 
Virginia appears to have been neither a State nor a territory, but 
was declared to be Military District Ko. 1, and United States army 
officers were placed in authority over her affairs, civil as well as 
military. It is true that soon after the order proclaiming Virginia 
a military district a provisional governor was appointed by the 
authorities, but he was dominated by the military in his adminis- 
tration of affairs of State, and was powerless, it appears, to do any- 
thing in his office as Governor not sanctioned and approved by the 
commanding military officer. 

AYhile the town was in the hands of the civil authorities — the 
Mayor and Common Council, elected at the last election held be- 
fore the close of the war — it was only nominally so. They were 
powerless to do anything unless it met the approval of the mili- 
tary authority. This was plainly shown by a communication re- 



114 History of Fredericlcsburg , Virginia 

ceived from Brigader-General T. M. Harris, commanding, on the 
first day of August, 1865, addressed to the Mayor. In that com- 
munication General Harris said: 

"The sanitary condition of your town will, of course, claim the 
first and earnest attention of your Council. I am desirous of co- 
operating, so far as I am able, in this matter and desire the co- 
operation of the city authorities in return. It will be indispensable 
to have labor, which cannot be procured without money. I would, 
therefore, suggest that you take into consideration the propriety 
of levying a small per capita and also property tax for this pur- 
pose." 

Of course, under the condition of things, a suggestion from the 
General commanding was virtually an order, and it was so under- 
stood. Accordingly, on the 8th of August, the Common Council 
was convened by the Mayor, when General Harris's communication 
was laid before it, considered and the following tax levied : 

"On all real and personal property, fifty cents on the one hundred 
dollars value; on moneys, solvent bonds and securities, except the 
bonds of the corporation, forty cents on the one hundred dollars 
value; on all capital invested or used in any manufacturing busi- 
ness or investment, used or employed in any trade or business, 
twenty-five cents on every one hundred dollars; on the moneys and 
personal property of joint-stock companies, forty cents on every one 
hundred dollars; on every white and colored male above twenty- 
one years of age, two dollars." The same tax was levied for 1867. 

AIsT ELECTION SET ASIDE. 

The municipal government that found itself in possession of the 
town at the close of the war continued without any election, or 
any attempt to hold an election, until the Spring of 1867. At that 
time it seemed to be the opinion and desire of the Mayor and Com- 
mon Council that an election should be held and that a full corps 
of officers for the town should be chosen. The only law under 
which the Council could act and order an election was the charter 
which was in force prior to the war and which prescribed that elec- 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 115 

tions for Mayor and Common Council should be held on the third 
Monday in March of each year. 

In accordance with this provision of the charter the Council 
ordered an election to be held on the 18th of March, 1867, for the 
election of a Mayor and Common Council, but the question of the 
qualification of voters having arisen, and the Council being unable 
to decide who were entitled to vote under the new order of things, 
referred the question to General John M. Scofield, who was then in 
command of Military District, No. 1. 

General Scofield suspended the election "until the necessary 
preparations can be made to fully and fairly carry out the pro- 
visions of the act of Congress of March 3rd, 1867, concerning the 
elective franchise and the qualification of officers." On receipt of 
this order of suspension the Council passed the following resolu- 
tion : 

"That in pursuance of said oider, the election heretofore adver- 
tised to be held on Monday, the ISth instant, for Mayor and Com- 
mon Councilmen, be and it is hereby suspended until farther orders. 
And whereas, further, under General Orders No. 1, issued from the 
same headquarters, all officers under the existing provisional gov- 
ernment of Virginia are continued in office for the present, this- 
Council, in accordance with said orders, do hereby resolve that thc' 
persons at present, discharging the duties required by the charter 
of this corporation, be and they are hereby continued in their re- 
spective offices until further orders." And there was a peculiar 
significance in the word orders ! 

THE lEON-CLAD OATH. 

In April, 1867, the famous order was issued from "Headquarters, 
Military District, No. 1, of the State of Virginia," requiring every 
officer in the Commonwealth, State, municipal and county, to take 
the oath adopted by Congress in 1863, commonly called the test 
oath, and which was known through the South after the close of the 
war as the Iron-clad oath. This order affected every officer in the 
State, from the Governor down to the smallest officer, and it created. 
quite a sensation. The oath was as follows : 



116 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

'% , of the county of and State of , 

do solemnly swear that I have never voluntarily borne arms against 
the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have 
voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel or encouragement 
to persons engaged in hostility thereto ; that I have neither sought 
nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office 
whatsoever under any authority or pretended authority in hostility 
to the United States; that I have yielded no voluntary support to 
any authority, pretended authority or constitution within the 
United States inimical thereto. So help me God !" 

Fredericksburg had no officer serving at that time who could take 
such an oath. Some of the officers had, at some time during the war, 
been active participants on the Confederate side, and those who 
were too far advanced in age to enter the army had sympathized 
with the Confederate cause and had otherwise aided it, therefore 
every officer, from Mayor down to policeman, was removed and 
their places supplied, in some few instances, by residents who took 
the required oath, but in most instances the appointees were strang- 
ers and citizens of I^orthern States, who had floated down South in 
search of some office at the hands of the military commander. 

The venerable and efficient clerk of the courts, Mr. John James 
Chew, who had held the office for forty years, was removed and an 
inexperienced and inefficient stranger was installed in his place and 
given the keeping and eiustody of our court papers and records. 
Many of the appointees of the Common Council were men of that 
class, and were therefore unable to conduct the affairs of the town, 
provide a revenue to meet the running expenses and pay the interest 
on the city bonds. 

The Military Council was placed in possession of the city gov- 
ernment in 1867, and conducted public affairs on the revenues 
brought in by the tax bill levied by their predecessors by permis- 
sion of the commanding general. In the latter part of 1867 the 
-creditors of the town were demanding their money, and no money 
was in the treasury. They threatened suits to enforce payment 
of their dues, and in order to meet these obligations, on the 23rd 
■ of May, 1868, the Military Council passed a tax bill levying a tax 



History of Fredericksburg^ Virginia 117 

of one dollar and a quarter on the one hundred dollars value of 
all real and personal property, and on all males over twenty-one 
years of age a capitation tax of three dollars, but the Commissioner 
of Eevenue never made up his tax books and the tax was never 
collected. This state of things continued through the year 1869 ; 
therefore, when the Common Council of the people's own choosing 
took charge of the city government on the first of July, 1870, 
under the provisions of the new State constitution, they found 
municipal affairs in a wretched condition. 

THE NEW CHARTEE POE THE CITY. 

The new charter for the town, granted under the new State con- 
stitution, was passed by the Legislature and approved by the Gov- 
ernor on the 23rd of March, 1871. It differed very much from the 
charter under which the town was governed before the war, both as 
to new offices provided for and the term of officers. The officers 
to be elected by the people were one Mayor, who should hold his 
office for two years; twelve Councilmen, who should hold for one 
year; but this was subsequently changed so that six Councilmen 
should be elected from each ward — the town having been divided 
into two wards — and they were to hold office for two years; one 
City Sergeant for a term of two years; one Commissioner of the 
Eevenue for two years, which has since been changed to four years, 
and one City Treasurer for three years. Any person who was 
a qualified voter was eligible to any one of the offices named above, 
and when they were elected and qualified they were to 'Tiave the 
powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and re- 
sponsibilities prescribed by the general laws" of the State. 

They were not to enter upon their respective duties until they 
qualified before some person authorized to administer oaths, and, in 
addition to the oath of fidelity and the anti-duelling oath, each one 
had also to swear "that I recognize and accept the civil and political 
equality of all men before the law." This was another reminder to 
us that the "negroes were free," and was "intended as the lash to 
compel Southern courts to administer to them justice and to 
election officers to accord them all the privileges at the polls they 
were allowed." 



118 History of Frederichsljurg , Virginia 

The Mayor was to preside at the meetings of the Council, give the 
casting vote on questions before that body in case of a tie and act 
as a justice of the peace in civil and criminal matters arising in the 
corporation. He was to have control of the police of the town 
and appoint special police officers when he deemed it necessary; 
and, in addition to these duties, he was empowered to try all 
offences and controversies arising under the ordinances of the town, 
to impose fines and collect the same, saving to the parties the right 
of appeal when the matter in controversy exceeded the sum of ten 
dollars. 

The Council was authorized to establish and regulate markets, to 
alter or improve streets, alleys, sidewalks and bridges, and keep the 
same in order; to provide for the lighting of streets, against acci- 
dents by fire; to establish fire companies, purchase engines, and to 
provide wells or cisterns for supplying water. It was authorized to 
prevent and punish, by reasonable fines, the practice of discharging 
fire-arms and running horses in the town; to license and regulate 
shows and other exhibitions, and tax them in such manner as may 
be expedient and lawful; to lay off public grounds and provide for 
and take care of public buildings, grounds and cemeteries; to con- 
duct and distribute water into and through the town; to adopt 
rules for its own government and the transaction of its business. 
It was also to define the powers, prescribe the duties and fix the 
term of service and compensation of its own appointees, necessary 
for conducting the affairs of the town, not otherwise provided; to 
fix the salary of the Mayor and all other officers, but no compen- 
sation was to be allowed to any member of the Council unless he 
should act as clerk of the body. The Council was to make all such 
by-laws and regulations as it might deem necessary, consistent with 
the constitution and laws of the State, for the good government of 
the town, and to enforce the same by reasonable fines and penalties, 
not exceeding for any one offence the sum of ten dollars. 

The Council was authorized to provide a revenue for the town 
and appropriate the same, and for that purpose it was made the 
duty of the Commissioner of the Eevenue to make an annual 
assessment of taxable persons and property within the town, such as 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 119 

should be taxable under the revenue laws of the State, including 
dogs and other animals running at large. 

This was the release of the liberty-loving people of Fredericks- 
burg from military bondage and misrule, signed, sealed and de- 
livered, for which they rejoiced as did the captive Israelite of old 
as he again returned from bondage to his beloved native land. 

CITIZENS AGAIN IN CONTROL. 

The Ante Bellum Deht of the Town. 

Prior to the war the Council, by direction of the people, given 
through the ballot, had made large appropriations to public im- 
provements, with a view of building up the town by retaining the 
trade of the surrounding country, which was threatened by other 
cities, and by drawing trade from other sections of the country that 
found markets elsewhere. From these improvements the hopes of 
the town were not realized. Some of them remained in an unfin- 
ished condition, while others had been rendered worthless by new 
lines of railroad that had diverted their business and rendered them 
worthless ; yet, the debt owed by the town, by reason of these appro- 
priations and other expenditures, amounted to $244,521.48.* All 
this debt was hanging over the desolated town and not a dollar's 
worth of property to show for it. 

In addition to this loss no provision had been made by former 
Councils to meet the interest on these bonds for the past four or 
five years, and suits had been brought and judgments obtained to 
enforce payment and other suits were threatened. Under judg- 
ments and executions obtained against the corporation, all property 
belonging to the town, available, was sold at public auction by the 
officer of the law. Even the chairs in the council chamber, in 
which the members of the Council sat to conduct the public business 
of the town, were sold by the constable at public outcry under exe- 
cution. The members of the Council attended this sale and each 



* This amount was ascertained by Mr. St. George R. Fitzhugh, after a thor- 
ough examination of the indebtedness of the town at the close of the war, 
about 1895, which was published in the town papers and also in circulars and 
distributed. 



130 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

one purchased his chair, and thereafter the members furnished their 
own seats at the council board, while they legislated for the public 
good, without fee or reward, other than the consciousness of duty 
nobly done. 

The Common Council that took charge of municipal affairs in 
1870 had many grave and difficult questions to meet and determine. 
Debts had accumulated against the city, while the taxable values 
had greatly diminished by the destruction of property during the 
war and the emancipation of the slaves. A large portion of the 
inhabitants had recently returned home — the women and children 
from refugeeing and the men from the army — almost penniless, 
to find their homes in ruins or badly damaged and despoiled of 
what had been left in them. Nearly everybody had to commence 
life anew. 

The Council, therefore, had to provide for these debts, and, at 
the same time, not place a burden upon an impoverished people, in 
the form of taxation that they could not bear. It was a trying 
ordeal, but the membei's were equal to the emergency. That Coun- 
cil was composed of Walker Peyton Conway, J. Gordon Wallace, 
Hugh S. Doggett, George W. Eve, Patrick McCracken, Wm. C 
Morrison, Joseph W. Sener, John T. Knight, John H. Myer, 
George Gravatt, Thomas Harrison and John James Young. 

The finance committee of that Council, which was expected to 
provide for the finances and bring before the Council, for its con- 
sideration and adoption, such measures as would meet the emer- 
gency and not oppress the tax-payers, consisted of W. P. Conway, 
J. Gordon Wallace and Hugh S. Doggett. With great diligence 
they applied themselves to their task. A tax bill was formulated 
and brought before the Council levying a tax, which was adopted, 
and in a short time money was raised, the debts were paid in 
installments until all creditors were paid or satisfactory arrange- 
ments made with them. 

In 1876 the old bonds of the city were funded, by mutual agree- 
ment of the Council and the bond holders, at sixty-six and two- 
third cents on the dollar, the new bonds to bear seven per cent, 
interest and run thirty years. This was a wise arrangement of the 



History of Frederic'ksburg, Virginia 121 

Council, notwithstanding there was considerable opposition to it, 
the opponents of the measure claiming that the rate of interest of 
the new bonds should not exceed six per cent., although money 
was then bringing from ten to twelve per cent., and sometimes more 
than twelve. The amount of bonds issued under this funding 
act amounted to $125,000. 

By this arrangement of funding one-third of the principal of the 
bonds was eliminated, the threatened suits for past-due interest 
were averted, and it put the Council in a position to provide for 
the interest as it should fall due, take care of the floating debt, and 
at the same time reduce the rate of taxation, which the tax-payer 
hailed with delight. Thus the delinquencies of the former years 
were met and provided for, the rate of taxation was not oppressive, 
and the town, being under the control of its own citizens, untram- 
melled by military authority, rapidly moved forward, public confi- 
dence in its ability to meet its obligations was restored and thus 
municipal affairs were placed in a satisfactory condition. The 
credit of the city is as good at present as any city of the State, and 
no bonds have been funded or sold in the last twelve years at a 
greater rate of interest than four per cent., or at any figure below 
their face value. 

PRESENT INDEBTEDNESS, INCLUDING ANTE AND POST BELLUM BONDS. 

The bonded indebtedness of the city, and the improvements for 
which said bonds were issued is a matter that concerns every citi- 
zen, and for their information are here given as of 1908 : 

Five per cent, water bonds, issued July 1, 1895, due January 1, 

1909, coupons payable January and July 1st $ 30,000 

Four per cent, gas bonds, issued January 2, 1900, coupons due 

July and January 2nd, bonds due January 2, 1920 25,000 

Four per cent, bridge bonds, issued July 2, 1900, coupons due 

January and July 2nd, bonds due July 2, 1920 25,000 

Four per cent, electric light bonds, issued January 1, 1901, cou- 
pons due July and January 1st, bonds due January 1, 1931. . . 12,000 

Four per cent, sewer bonds, issued April 1, 1901, coupons due 

October and April 1st, bonds due April 1, 1931 18,000 

Four per cent, street improvement bonds, issued April 1, 1901, 

coupons due October and April 1st, bonds due April 1, 1931 20,000 



122 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

Four per cent, water and gas bonds, issued April 1, 1905, cou- 
pons due October and April 1st, bonds due April 1, 1931 20,000 

Four per cent, gas and water bonds, issued September 1, 1905, 
coupons due September 1st, $5,000 to be paid each year till 
paid, $5,000 already paid 20,000 

Four per cent, bonds funding the old 7 per cent, bonds, issued 
May 1, 1906, coupons due May and November, bonds due 
May 1, 1936 119,400 

Three bonds of $5,000, due National Bank of Fredericksburg and 
payable $5,000 on November 1, 1908, and yearly thereafter, 
bearing 4 per cent, interest 15,000 

Making the total bonded debt of the town $304,400 

Many of these public improvements were constructed by the 
authority of the freeholders of the town, by a majority vote cast at 
special elections appointed and held for that purpose; others were 
constructed by action of the City Council under authority granted 
them by the new constitution enlarging the powers and duties of 
city councils, and appeared to have the sanction of a large majority 
of the tax-payers of the town. 




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CHAPTEE IX 

The Courts of Fredericlshurg — The Freedman's Bureau — Court 
Orders and Incidents — Fiy-st Night Watch — Ministers Qualify 
to Perform Marriage Cereraony — First Notary Public — Fix- 
ing the Value of Bank Notes — Prison Bounds for Debtors — 
Public Buildings, &c. 

If every one in this Christian land was a Christian, and was 
governed by the rule laid down and inculcated by the Christ, 
"whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
them," there would have been but little, if any, use for courts in 
this country. But all people are not .Christians, and all Christians 
are not governed by that golden rule, therefore courts were neces- 
sary to punish crime, settle disputes, protect the weak against the 
strong, secure the widow and orphan in their rights, enforce pro- 
vision for the indigent poor, and perform other functions for the 
benefit of society and the well-being of the country. 

What courts Fredericksburg had before the Eevolutionary war is 
unknown, as no record seems to have been left of them. In all 
probability the successors of Major Lawrence Smith were also 
authorized to execute martial law and hear and determine all ques- 
tions, as a county court might do, until the town was chartered in 
1727 and placed in the hands of trustees. These trustees had cer- 
tain powers conferred upon them by act of the House of Burgesses, 
and they were to keep records of their proceedings, but these re- 
cords cannot now be found and quite likely have long ago been 
destroyed. 

It may have been possible that the Colonial Governors appointed 
magistrates to hear and determine causes within certain limits and 
to punish petty offences, while causes beyond those limits and 
felonies were heard and determined by the court sitting at Wil- 
liamsburg. Of this, however, we are left to conjecture, as no re- 
cords are at our command. But if this had been the manner of 
dispensing justice prior to 1781, it furnished a pattern for the 

[ 123 ] 



124 History of FredericJcsburg, Virginia 

Virginia Legislature for many years thereafter with respect to the 
town, as is referred to elsewhere. 

The first court established in Fredericksburg, that we now have 
any records of, was by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, 
passed during the session of 1781. At that session Fredericksburg 
was regularly incorporated and given a Common Council and a 
hustings court, but the court did not organize until April 15, 1782. 
At its organization the following justices were present: Charles 
Mortimer, Wm. McWilliams, James Somerville^ Charles Dick, 
Samuel Eoddy and John Julien, "the same being Mayor, Recorder 
and Aldermen of the town," elected to their respective offices on the 
18th day of March, 1782, in the order above named. 

This continued as the only court of the town until 1788, when 
nineteen district courts were established in the State by the General 
Assembly, one of which was located at Fredericksburg. These 
courts were presided over by two judges of the General Court, 
located at Richmond, the number of judges of that court having 
been, by the same act, increased from five to ten judges. 

This district court was regarded as a very important court, and 
was attended by some of the ablest lawyers in Virginia and adjoin- 
ing States. Edmund Randolph, after he was Governor and twice 
a Cabinet Minister,* and also James Monroe, a citizen of this place, 
after he was Minister to England, France and Spain, were attor- 
neys before and practised in this court. While attending a session 
of this court, on the 3rd day of May, 1798, Governor Randolph 
j)ublished the following card in the Virginia, Herald: 

"My business in the Court of Appeals and High Court of Chan- 
eery render it impossible for me to attend constantly the district 
court holden at this place. I have, therefore, come hither, during 
the present term, with a hope of finishing almost every cause in 
which I was employed; and have refused all fees, which have been 
offered to me in any suits, which I may not try before I leave the 
town. I am apprehensive, however, that I shall not succeed in 
concluding everything; and I have accordingly, made the following 



Attorney-General and Secretary of the Treasury in Washington's Cabinet. 



History of Frederickshurg , Virginia 125 

arrangement: To some of my clients I have personally returned 
the fees; to all others^ where the business has not been absolutely 
finished;, or any step remains to be taken, except to move for the 
opinion of the court, the fee will be returned on application to 
John Chew, Esq., clerk of the court, who has been so obliging as . 
to accept from me a list of all my suits, still depending, of the 
money received, and of their situation. Although the fees are to be 
returned yet I have obtained the favor of Colonel Monroe,* Colonel 
John Minor and Francis Brooke, Esq.,f to attend to these suits, 
agreeably to the memorandum which I have given each of them, 
with every paper and information in my power. In two of the 
cases, which are of peculiar importance, I shall attend myself at a 
future day; and in all instances, will cheerfully assist with my 
advice. If required, I will be ready to attend the trial of any par- 
ticular suits, now or hereafter depending in this court whensoever 
the business of the Court of Appeals and High Court of Chancery 
will permit." 

This court continued in existence for about twenty years, when, 
by an act of the G-eneral Assembly of 1808-9, it was abolished, 
and a "Circuit Court or a Superior Court of Law," was established 
in its stead. This new court was presided over by one of the judges 
of the General Court, the number of judges of that court, it appears, 
having been increased from ten to fifteen, to correspond with the 
number of circuits established in the State. These courts have 
continued to the present time, with slight changes at different 
periods as to their powers and territory, and are presided over by 
circuit judges. 

In the year 1852 the State was divided into ten districts and a 
court was established for each district, known as- the District 
Court of Appeals. The court for the Fourth district was located 
at Fredericksburg, and was held up-stairs in the north wing of the 
present courthouse. This court consisted of the judges of the cir- 
cuit courts constituting the district and the judge of the Court of 
Appeals, elected from this section of the State, as president. It 



• President James Monroe. 

f Afterwards one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. 



126 History of Frederichshurg , Virginia 

was provided that no judge should sit in any appeal case sent up 
from his circuit. This court continued until the adoption of what 
was known as the Underwood Constitution, which failed to make 
provision for district courts. 

Prior to 1870 the corporation or hustings court was held by three 
or more justices of the peace, but when the State constitution of 
that year was adopted it raised that court to a higher dignit}^, its 
powers and jurisdiction were enlarged, and a judge prescribed "who 
shall be learned in the law." Since the establishment of this court 
it has had five judges to preside over it — John M. Herndon, John 
T. Goolrick, Montgomery Slaughter, A. Wellington Wallace, and 
Alvin T. Embrey. The new State constitution abolished all 
county courts and provided four annual terms of the circuit court, 
which were regarded ample for all purposes. In this change in 
the present constitution Fredericksburg lost her session of the cir- 
cuit court and also her hustings court, but authority was conferred 
upon the City Council to continue the hustings court if it judged it 
necessary, the Legislature to elect the judge, whose term of office 
was to be ten years, and the Council was to pay his salary. In 
accordance with this authority the Council decided to continue the 
court, and Judge John T. Goolrick was elected by the General 
Assembly to preside over it. 

The police court, established by the State constitution of 1870, is 
held by the Mayor of the town, and in his absence by the Eecorder, 
or in his absence by any justice of the peace who may be designated 
by the Mayor for that purpose. This court has jurisdiction of mis- 
demeanors and of civil cases, where the amount involved is less 
than one hundred dollars, with the right of appeal to the corpora- 
tion court when the amount in controversy is ten dollars or more. 
After the first of January, 1909, by provision of State law, this 
court will be conducted by a police justice. 

CIRCUIT COURT. 

The new State constitution increased the number of circuits. 
when the county courts were abolished, to twenty-nine, and also 
increased the terms of the court to four annually, in order to enable 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 127 

the judges to do what the circuit courts previouslj^ did and most of 
the work formerly allotted to the old county courts. In order to 
do this the duties of the circuit clerks were greatly enlarged, that 
they might do much of the business heretofore transacted by the 
county courts. Fredericksburg is in the fifteenth circuit, but no 
session of the court is held within her borders. The circuit con- 
sists of five counties — King George, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caro- 
line and Hanover. Our circuit judge is the Hon. John E. Mason, 
who resides most of the time in Fredericksburg. 

CHAXGE IX CITY AFFAIRS. 

The same constitution that changed the circuit courts and 
abolished the county courts made many changes also with govern- 
ment of cities and towns. In Fredericksburg, divided into two 
wards as it had been for some years, the six Councilmen from each 
ward were elected at the same time to serve two years, the Mayor 
being the presiding officer of the body. In these changes each ward 
is to elect three Councilmen every two years, who are to serve a 
term of four years, and the presiding officer is to be elected from 
the body of the Council. The present president is William E. 
Bradley, Esq., the first one having been Col. E. D. Cole. 

THE FEEEDilAX^'s BUEEAr. 

The Freedman's Bureau was established in Fredericksburg in 
1865. It was an unique judicial tribunal, and found its way in 
our midst by reason of the disjointed condition of the country at 
that time. It was brought into being by congressional enactment, 
to be operated alone in the Southern States that had formed the 
Southern Confederacy, which government had then ceased to exist. 
The geographical divisions in the South were no longer States, as 
heretofore stated, but military districts, designated by numbers, 
and it was the opinion of the Federal authorities, it seems, that in 
the chaotic condition of society and the impotency of our courts, 
or from some other cause, the colored people, who had just been 
emancipated from slavery, would not be justly dealt vtdth by their 
former owners, hence the necessity of this civil-military tribunal. 

These Freedman^s bureaus were composed of three judges — one 



128 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

an army officer and two citizens. In the organization of the bureau 
in Fredericksburg two of the judges were appointed by the com- 
mander of the military district and the third one was elected by the 
Common Council. Being thus formed it was supposed that all 
parties brought before the court would receive justice. It had 
original jurisdiction over misdemeanors^ controversies involving 
labor and the observance of contracts, and appellate jurisdiction 
from the decisions of magistrates and police justices, where the 
rights of colored people and United States soldiers were involved. 

The first court of this kind organized in Fredericksburg was com- 
posed of Major James Johnson, a United States army officer, 
Major Charles Williams, an ardent Union man, and James B. 
Sener, who was unanimously elected by the Common Council "a 
commissioner on the part of the citizens of the town in the Freed- 
man's bureau, about to be organized."* 

Many absurd and amusing stories were put in circulation about 
this court, and the colored people were variously impressed with its 
functions and purposes, as well as of its powers and jurisdiction. 
Persons who followed the Union army to town, and who professed 
great friendship for the colored people and secured their confidence, 
told them that one ]3urpose of the Freedman's Bureau was to adjust 
financial matters between ex-slaves and their former owners and 
to remunerate them for labor pei'formed while they were in slavery. 
The money for this purpose was to be made from the property of 
those who owned the slaves and who received the benefit of their 
services. 

The most of the colored people believed these, as they did the 
other absurd stores, f and it was agreed that a test case should be 
made in Fredericksburg, and if it was decided in favor of the ex- 
slave that all the other ex-slaves should bring similar suits for their 



* Council proceedings, 1867. 

f Some of tlie colored people were told by wags that the object of the 
bureau was to furnish a bureau to every colored family that had none, as it 
was composed of bureaus. Believing this to be true, some colored women are 
said to have driven their wagons from Caroline county to town and applied to 
Major Johnson for their bureau, and could not conceal their disgust when they 
were informed that "It was a jestis bureau they had in Fredericksburg and not 
a furniture bureau." 



History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 129 

ante-bellum services. The papers were prepared in such a case by 
one of the so-called lawyers, who made their appearance in our 
midst in those troublous times, one of our colored men being the 
plaintiff, but it was soon ascertained that such a suit would be 
'laughed out of court," and therefore the matter was dropped and 
nothing more was heard from it. It is said that after this the 
bureau was not popular even with the colored people. 

COUET ORDERS AND INCIDENTS. 

There are many orders made and incidents that happened in the 
old courts that will be of interest to-day, if for no other reason 
than for their age and the fact that they are not practised in our 
present courts. Among the first things that claimed the attention 
of the hustings court, after its organization and appointment of the 
officers of the court, was to fix the rates of charges for the tavern- 
keepers. This it did on the 20th day of May, 1782, entering the 
folloAving schedule: 

"Good West India rum, one pound per gallon; bread, ten shil- 
lings ; whiskey, six ; strong beer, four ; good West India rum toddy, 
ten shillings; brandy toddy, seven shillings and six pence; rum 
punch, fifteen shillings; brandy punch, twelve; rum grog, six; 
brandy grog, five. Diet : one meal, one shilling and six pence ; 
lodging, one shilling and three pence; "stablidge" and hay, two 
shillings; oats and corn, nine pence per gallon." 

ISTearly half a century passed before another order in reference to 
tavern rates was made, or recorded if made. It is presumed that 
the schedule of rates made in 1782 was in force until the 10th day 
of May, 1838, or was renewed from time to time, with slight 
changes. On the 10th of May, 1838, another list of prices was 
adopted by the court, and entered as follows, dollars and cents 
being substituted for pounds and shillings : 

Breakfast, 50 cents; dinner 50; supper, 50; lodging, 25; grain 
per gallon, 12^ "stablage" and hay per night, 25; Madeira wine, 
per quart, 1.00; champagne, per quart, 1.50; other wine per quart, 
50; French brandy, 12^ per gill; rum., 12^; gin, 12^; whiskey, 
12^; corn per gallon, 25. 
9 



130 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

Another order was made by the court on the first day of March, 
1784, when it "proceeded to settle the allowances to the officers of 
the corporation." That order gave to the officers their sal- 
aries as follows: Mr. John Minor, Jr., attorney for the Com- 
monwealth, 3000 pounds of tobacco; Henry Armistead, clerk, 
1200 pounds; John Legg, sergeant, 1200 pounds; Henry Armi- 
stead, for attending all courts of inquiry, 400 pounds; sergeant for 
same, 570 pounds, and Wm. Jenkins, ''gaoler," 364 pounds. For 
several years the salaries of the corporation officers were paid in the 
same manner and in the same currency. 

On the 2nd of August, 1784, it was "ordered that the clerk 
certify that this court do recommend Eobert Brooke* as a person 
of probity, honesty and good demeanor." This recommendation, it 
is understood, was necessary in order for Mr. Brooke to obtain a 
license from the General Court to practise law; and on the 7th of 
February, 1785, Eobert Brooke and Bushrod Washington! were 
admitted as practising lawyers before the court. 

Henry Armistead, the first clerk of the court, died about the first 
of August, 1787, and on the 6th of August John Chew, Jr., was 
appointed clerk to fill the vacancy. By that appointment we have 
this remarkable record, that from the appointment of John Chew, 
Jr., on the 6th of August, 1787, to the death of Colonel Eobert 
S. Chew, on the 17th of August, 1886, the clerkship of the hustings 
court was in the Chew famil}^, except the short time it was held by 
W. C. Strait under military appointment. It went from father to 
son for the fourth generation, covering a period of ninety-nine 
years and eleven days. These generations served as follows : John 
Chew, Jr., from 1787 to 1806 ; Eobert S. Chew, from 1806 to 1826 ; 
John James Chew, from 1826 to 1867, and Eobert S. Chew, from 
1870 to 1886. 

On the 27th of February, 1789, we are told that "James Mercer, 
Esq., Chief Justice of the General Court this day in open court took 
the oath of a Judge to the District Court, pursuant to an act of the 



* Governor of Virginia in 1794-96, and afterwards Attorney-General of the 
State. 

f Appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by Presi- 
dent Washington. 



History of FredericJcshurg , Virginia 131 

General Assembly entitled an act establishing district courts, and 
for regulating the General Court, which is ordered to be certified 
accordingly." Prom this entry we learn that James Mercer,* a Fred- 
ericksburg lawyer, was not only the chief Justice of the General 
Court, which was held in Eichmond, but the judge of the first dis- 
trict court held in Fredericksburg. This district court was the 
first court held in the town having jurisdiction over higher crimes 
than misdemeanors. Before the institution of this court all white 
persons charged with felonies were sent to Eichmond for trial by 
the General Court. 

From the records of the hustings court it appears that the "Gen- 
tlemen Justices" for many years after the introduction of United 
States money entered up fines and judgments in pounds, shillings 
and pence. The clerk used dollars and cents in entering up costs 
as early as 1795, but the court did not adopt the American count 
until about July, 1797. It is also noticeable that the clerk in 
nearly all entries placed the dollar mark after the figures, instead 
of in front of them, according to the present custom. 

The first intimation that the town needed a watch or police, in 
addition to the town sergeant, is given in an order of the court, 
entered April 25, 1801, when it was "ordered that the sergeant of 
this corporation do (within the time limited for the collection of 
the other taxes in this corporation) collect of the housekeepers, 
within the jurisdiction of this court, tvv^o per cent, on the amount 
of their rents, agreeable to the assessed value thereof, and that he 
pay the same to the chamberlain to be appropriated to paying a 
watch to be kept in said corporation, the same being this day levied 
for that purpose." 

On March 27, 1802, the grand jury of the corporation presented 
"as a nuisance the numerous obstructions in the streets, particu- 
larly in St. George street lot, burying the dead in George and 
Princess Ann streets ; also the irregular burying in the ground west 
of and adjoining Prince Edward street." The most of the obstruc- 
tions complained of were on Hanover street, west of Princess Ann, 



• Wrote Mary Washington's wiU and was one of the witnesses to her signa- 
ture. 



132 History of FredericTcshurg , Virginia 

and on George street, from Main to the river. The burying ground 
adjoining Prince Edward street about twenty-five years ago was 
converted into Hurkamp park. 

The court had been in existence more than twenty-two years be- 
fore any record is found where a minister of the gospel, of any 
denomination, qualified to perform the rites of matrimony. It 
may have been that the law did not require such qualification 
prior to 1804, and was enacted that year. At any rate, the first 
one to appear before the court was on the 24th day of December, 
1804. On that day "Benj. Essex, having produced to the court 
credentials of his ordination and of his being in regular communion 
with the Methodist Society, and having taken the oath of fidelity to 
the Commonwealth and entered into bond with security according 
to law, a testimonial is granted him to celebrate the rites of matri- 
mony according to the forms and customs of the said Methodist 
church." Similar orders were entered by the court for ministers of 
other denominations as they applied to the court. Erom the re- 
cord we find they applied as follows: Samuel Wilson, of the Pres- 
byterian church, September 23, 1806 ; Samuel Low, of the Epis- 
copal church, September 8, 1808, and "Wm. James, of the Baptist 
church, June 13, 1811. So it is found that as early as 1811 any 
one could be married in Fredericksburg, according to the customs 
of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and Baptist churches. 

On the 24th of December, 1805, John T. Lomax and Carter L. 
Stevenson qualified to practise law in the hustings court. They 
were two leading citizens of the town and served the public long 
and faithfully. John T. Lomax afterwards was made judge of the 
circuit court and one of the judges of the district court. He was 
also the author of several law books. Mr. Stevenson was thirty- 
five years Commonwealth's attorney in the town, holding the office 
a longer period than any other attorney, before or since his day. 

The first notary public to qualify in the hustings court was John 
Metcalfe. He was appointed by Governor James Barbour, and on 
the 12th day of November, 1812, came into court and produced his 
commission as a notary public, "whereupon the said John Met- 
calfe took the oath of fidelitv to the Commonwealth, and that he 




The Baptist Church. 
(See page 209) 



History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 133 

will without favor or partiality, honestly, intelligently and faith- 
fully discharge the duties of a notary public." 

REGULATING THE CURRENCY. 

In the early part of the nineteenth century "paper money" super- 
seded tobacco and tobacco warehouse receipts as currency^ and 
therefore much of it was issued. The notes of the denomination 
of one dollar, and more, were generally designated as bills, while 
those below one dollar were called "shin plasters." At first these 
notes were issued by States, cities and banks, but in a few years in- 
corporated companies, and sometimes individuals, issued them. 
These notes were not always taken at their face value, especially 
when they were found any distance from their place of issue. 

This being the case, it was difficult for the people to distinguish 
between the good and the doubtful, or to fix the proper rate of 
discount. Therefore the courts took the matter in hand. The 
question was considered and passed upon, for the first time in our 
courts, on the 14th of March, 1816, the subject being the difference 
between the paper currency of Virginia and the bank notes of other 
places, which were found in circulation in Frederick.sburg. Hav- 
ing properly investigated and reached a conclusion, the court de- 
clared and entered on record, as follows : 

"It appears to the satisfaction of the court that the chartered bank 
notes of the District of Columbia, State of Korth Carolina, and cities 
of Philadelphia and Baltimore, are current in this town, and it is 
the opinion of the court that the chartered bank notes of the District 
of Columbia, when compared with the chartered bank notes of Vir- 
ginia, are at a depreciation of six per cent. ; that the said notes of 
the cities of Philadelphia and Baltimore are at a depreciation of 
five per cent, and that the said notes of the State of ISTorth Carolina 
are of equal value with the said notes of Virginia." 

A similar declaration was made by -the court each year for several 
years thereafter. 

On the 10th day of November, 1831, the will of Thomas Seddon* 



* Mr. Thomas Seddon was the father of Hon. James A. Seddon, Confederate 
Secretary of War, and lived in the residence now owned and occupied by Mr. 
George W. Shepherd. 



134 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

was admitted to probate. Philip Alexander, John Moncure and 
Arthur A. Morson were appointed and qualified. as executors and 
entered into bond, without security, the deceased requesting that 
none be required, in the sum of $240,000, it being the largest bond 
ever before required by the court. Appraisers were appointed by 
the court to appraise his property in the town of Fredericksburg 
and the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, Prince William, Cul- 
peper, Fauquier, Shenandoah and Page, and they were ordered to 
make returns to this court. 

The court entered the following certificate on its records on the 
12th day of January, 1832: "The court orders it to be certified 
that it was proved to their satisfaction by the evidence of Francis 
S. Scott, a witness sworn in court, that Major Eobert Forsyth e, 
of the Eevolutionary army, had two children, one of whom, Eobert, 
died under age and unmarried, and the other son, John, is now 
alive, being the Senator in Congress from Georgia." 

THE POOR debtor's PRISON BOUNDS. 

In the olden times, when some claim that the people were more 
honest and just and the laws more righteous than they are now, 
a person who failed or refused to pay his debts could, by proper 
process, be placed in "prison bounds," and kept there until he ex- 
hibited to the court a schedule of his property, made under oath. 
If he had nothing more in the opinion of the court, than a reason- 
able allowance under the law, the court could discharge him as 
a poor debtor from custody. For more than fifty years the prison 
bounds was the square on which the jail is located. The poor deb- 
tor was allowed the full width of the streets around the square, but 
was not allowed to enter a building on the opposite side. Many 
distinguished men, it is said, have been confined to this central 
point in the town because they were unable at the time to meet 
their obligations. 

In 1840 the court extended the liberty of the poor debtor by 
enlarging the prison bounds to four squares, probably because the 
law had relaxed its hold upon him. He could roam anywhere on 
.those four squares and in the streets bounding them, but he could 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 135 

not go beyond the limits without being in contempt and becom- 
ing liable to additional punishment by the court. This order of 
extension was made on the 11th of June, 1840, and recorded as fol- 
lows: 

"The court doth fix the prison bounds as follows, to-wit: Be- 
ginning at the intersection of Caroline and William streets, thence 
up William to Charles street, thence down Charles street to Han- 
over street thence down Hanover street to Caroline street, thence 
up Caroline street to William street, including the footways on each 
side." 

And now having escaped the prison bounds we will visit the pub- 
lic buildings of the town and take a peep at them. 



CHAPTER X 

The Public Buildings — The Jail — Courthouse — Town Hall — Fire- 
house — School Buildings — Wallace Library — Normal School 
— Government Building, &c. 

As it was found necessary to have courts to punish crimes, to 
settle disputes and to enforce law and order in the Commonwealth 
for the good of society, it was also found necessary to have build- 
ings in which to hold the courts, to keep their records, and a place 
to confine criminals until they were tried by the courts, and then 
to punish them after conviction for their crimes. Therefore, the 
act that gave Fredericksburg a name and a place among the towns 
of the country, also gave it the authority, and enjoined it as a 
duty, to erect a courthouse and a jail, which was soon done; and 
it is almost certain that whatever court Fredericksburg had from 
1737, when it was first incorporated, to 1781, when it was chartered 
by the Legislature of Virginia, was held in that courthouse and that 
the criminals were kept and punished in that jail. 

When the hustings court was organized its sessions were held in 
the "coffee-house," but as soon as preparations could be made it was 
held in the old town hall, or market-house, on Main street, which 
appears to have had rooms sufficient for all public uses, as it was a 
favorite resort for the "lovers of balls and parties and other public 
gatherings." 

The first thing, however, that claimed the attention of the court 
was the repairing of the "courthouse and common gaol, where 
criminals could be placed and safely kept and in due time brought 
before the court." The first jail erected for the town seems to 
have been built partly with brick, and, from a false notion of 
economy, was entirely too small, was uncomfortable and not fit to 
keep prisoners in. This was so patent that the matter was, at 
various tim.es, and for several years, brought to the attention of 
the court. Various grand juries, upon examination, had reported 
that it was not a suitable place in which to confine prisoners. 

In 1803 a grand jury brought in an indictment against the jail 

[ 186 ] 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 137 

as a -nuisance, and charged that a colored criminal, who had been 
confined therein, had contracted a disease of which he afterwards 
died. This colored man was arrested, charged with entering a 
house in the night time and stealing goods therefrom, which was a 
capital offence. He was tried by the hustings court, after consider- 
able dela}^, and sentenced to be hung, but was recommended to the 
mercy of the Governor, who pardoned him. 

It was while the colored man was awaiting a trial, and after- 
wards the action of the Governor, that it was claimed he contracted 
a disease, of which he died soon after his liberation. Upon this 
report of the grand jury the court ordered the small, brick jail torn 
down and a new one of stone to be erected in its place. This new 
building was completed in 1805, when Wm. Taylor was appointed 
by the court and ordered to "sell the brick and otlier materials of 
the old jail in this corporation on a credit of sixty days and make 
return to this court." 

This jail stood on Princess Ann street, just north of the present 
clerk's office, and, loug before it was torn down and removed, was 
"an eye-sore to the public," and especially to those who lived in that 
locality. In 1851, when it was decided to build a new courthouse, 
it was also decided to move the jail. This was a joint action of the 
court and Common Council, and it met with serious opposition by 
many of the tax-payers, on the ground that it was a waste of public 
money, the present jail being all that was needed. 

But the order was given, and the jail was torn down and rebuilt 
in rear of the courthouse, the public scales, which stood on the 
spot, to be "moved to some more convenient place." The most of 
the stone in the old jail was placed in the new one, but a portion of 
it was taken for the foundation of the fence, which, until some 
six years ago, enclosed the courthouse yard and sustained the 
wall on George street and in Jail alley. The present granite align- 
ment of the courthouse lot is a great improvement on the old iron 
fence. 

THE COUETHOUSE. 

The first courthouse the town had was built on a part of the 
ground occupied by the present building and stood several feet back 



138 History of Frederichslurg , Ynginia 

from the street. It was a small, brick structure and very uncom- 
fortable. It is supposed to have been the second courthouse built 
for the town, the first having been built soon after the town was 
laid out. As early as 1820 the courts complained of the building 
they had to occupy and declared that it was unsuitable for court 
purposes. Various requests and complaints were made and orders 
issued to the Common Council by the court, looking to the erection 
of a new and commodious building, but the Council appeared to 
take no action in the matter, except to lay on the table all communi- 
cations from the court on the subject. 

It appears that the town and county were joint owners in the jail 
and courthouse, they being public property and the town then being 
a part of the county, and possibly contributed some way to their 
erection. This may account to some extent' for the tardiness of the 
Council in taking action, but whether it does or not, the court was 
not satisfied and did not attempt to conceal its displeasure. 

Finding its requests and orders disregarded, the court issued an 
order declaring that the Council must build a new courthouse or 
provide a better place for holding court, but even this did not 
appear to hurry the Council, which moved along in its own quiet 
way. This controversy went on for several years, the court request- 
ing, ordering, even threatening, without avail. It finally reached a 
point where it seems to have exhausted its patience and determined 
to assert its authority. 

On the 14th of June, 1849, the court being composed of Mayor 
Semple and Justices Wm. H. White and Peter G-oolrick, the follow- 
ing order was made and entered on the record book : 

"It is ordered, that Thomas B. Barton, John L. Marye, Robert 
B. Semple, Wm. C. Beale and John J. Chew, who are hereby ap- 
pointed a committee for that purpose, do examine and report to 
this court, some plan for the enlargement and repairs or rebuilding 
of the courthouse for this corporation, for the convenient adminis- 
tration of justice; and the said committee are also requested to 
examine and report whether any other public building, belonging to 
this corporation, can be so changed as to answer the above purpose, 
and to inquire and report the probable cost of such plan or plans 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 139 

as they may approve and report upon, and it is ordered that the 
Justices for this corporation be summoned to attend here at the 
next court to consider and decide upon said report." 

TMiile this order and the appointment of the committee, with its 
instructions, created considerable comment, it did not seem to excite 
the Council or precipitate any action favorable to the proposed 
building. At the next court eight justices were present in answer 
to the summons issued at the last session of the court. Those 
present were E. B. Semple, Eobert Dickey, Beverly E. Wellford, 
T\'m. C. Beale, Wm. H. Wliite, Peter Goolrick, Wm. Slaughter and 
Wm. Warren. 

The report of the committee appointed at the previous court, was 
made, and the court declared "that in obedience to the act of the 
General Assembly, which requires that courts for the corporations 
within this Commonwealth should cause to be erected one good and 
convenient courthouse, that it is necessary and proper to build a 
courthouse for this corporation," and the report of the committee 
'Slaving been returned to court, and therewith an order from the 
county court of Spotsylvania, releasing to this court all title and 
interest the said county has to the jail and courthouse, within this 
corporation, and the said lots on which they stand, being considered 
by this court, it is approved and confirmed." 

The court then appointed a commission, consisting of Mayor 
Semple, Beverly E. Wellford, Wm. H. White, Thomas B. Barton 
and John L. Marye, who were instructed to contract with some 
responsible party to erect a good and substantial courthouse on lots 
42 and 44, or either of them, according to the plan submitted to the 
court, or that plan modified, if it was found necessary, the cost not 
to exceed four thousand dollars. The commission was to report 
from time to time to the court. 

This action looked as if the court intended to exhaust its powers 
or have a new courthouse, but a few days' mixing with the people 
seems to have raised a doubt in the minds of the members of the 
court as to the wisdom of their action. At any rate, when the 
August term came the full corps of magistrates was present. "A 
petition, and counter petition of the citizens of Fredericksburg, in 



140 History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 

relation to the action of the court upon the subject of rebuilding 
the courthouse, were severally presented, when, on a motion made 
to rescind the order for building the courthouse and laying a levy 
therefor, the vote stood as follows : 

For rescinding, Robert B. Semple, Peter Goolrick, Wm. C. Beale, 
Robert Dicky, 4. Against rescinding, Beverley R. Welford, Wm. H. 
Wliite, Wm. Slaughter, Wm. Warren, 4. The court being divided 
on the question of repealing or enforcing its own order, the subject 
was dropped so far as any action of the court was concerned, and 
was not again brought up for several months. 

At the April term, in 1850, however, the court respectfully re- 
quested the Council to appoint a day to have an election, that the 
voters might express their wishes as to whether or not a levy should 
be made for the purpose of building a courthouse. This paper, 
although it placed the court before the Council in the attitude of 
an humble suppliant, was read before the Council and laid on 
the table, as all former papers from that source had been. 

This seems to have ended the efforts of the court to secure a new 
courthouse or the repairing of the old, either by entreaties, threats 
or by the power given it under the acts of the General Assembly. 
Thus things continued for one year, although the question was 
warmly discussed by the citizens, who were very much divided on 
the subject. An election was to be held the following March, and 
the court, finding itself defeated in all former efforts, transferred 
the question to the people in their selections for members of the 
Council. This was a Avise move for the friends of the measure. 
The election was held and a Council in favor of building a new 
courthouse was elected. The eyes of the public were now turned 
from the hustings court to the Common Council which had just 
been elected. The contest Avas not long delayed. 

The election for Councilmen was held on the third Monday in 
March, 1851, and at the meeting, held on the first day of April, 
Messrs. Thomas B. Barton, John James Chew, J. Minor, Wm. 
Allen and Beverly R. Wellford were appointed a committee by the 
Council to consider the subject of the location and erection of a 
new courthouse and report thereon all matters connected with the 
cost, style and site of said building. 



History of Frederichshurg^ Virginia 141 

The next meeting of the Council was held on the 26th of April. 
It was one of unusual importance, because the committee on the 
new courthouse was to report, and every member except two was in 
his seat, and the chamber was crowded to its full capacity by citi- 
zens, who felt a special interest in the subject. The committee was 
in favor of erecting a new courthouse, and therefore reported to the 
Council plans and specifications for the building, drawn by J. B. 
Benwick, Jr., of Baltimore, giving the style and the probable cost 
at $14,000. 

The committee recommended the site of the old courthouse, the 
removal of the jail to the back of the new building and the removal 
of the clerk's office and engine houses. The report was adopted 
and the committee was instructed to contract for the erection of 
the building inside of the estimated cost. This looked as if the 
Council meant business, and for the next three weeks the question 
was warmly discussed, and the opponents of the measure undertook 
to prevent the great waste of money, as they termed it, by petition 
and other influences. The Council met on the 21st of May to 
receive the report of the committee, appointed to contract for the 
building, and every member was present. The interest was in- 
tense and the opposition determined. 

The committee made its report and the clerk of the Council 
made this record : "A contract with Wm. M. Baggett, for building 
a new courthouse, jail, &c., for the sum of $13,850, together with 
drawings and specifications of said buildings made by James Ben- 
wick, architect, and to be taken as part of said contract, and a bond 
executed by said Baggett, J. Metcalfe, J. S. Caldwell, and George 
Aler, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the faithful perform- 
ance of said contract, by said Baggett, were submitted to the 
Council by T. B. Barton, chairman of the committee appointed 
for that purpose, for their approval or rejection. 

"Whereupon, and before any action was had thereon, Mr. J. M. 
Wliittemore, asked and obtained leave to be heard by the Council in 
support of a petition, signed by one hundred and seventy-two of the 
voters of the corporation, remonstrating against the extravagant 
scheme of pulling down the jail and other buildings on the court- 



143 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

house lot^ and praying the appointment of a committee of their own 
board,* to contract for the erection of a spacious and comfortable 
courthouse at a cost not exceeding six thousand dollars. Said 
petition was accordingly presented by Mr. Whittemore, and, being 
read, was, on motion, laid on the table. 

"On motion, said contract was then approved and confirmed by 
the following vote to-wit : Ayes : F. Slaughter, Joseph Sanf ord, J. 
Minor, D. H. Gordon, J. Pritchard, L. J. Huffman, B. S. Herndon, 
Thomas F. Knox, Charles C. Wellford and John J. Berrey, 10. 
ISTays: Hugh Scott and Wm. Allen, 2. And it was ordered that 
the Mayor, as evidence of said approval and confirmation, do sign 
an endorsement to that effect on said contract, and cause the cor- 
poration seal to be affixed thereto, and that said contract together 
with the drawings and specifications, be then delivered to the clerk 
of the hustings court for safe keeping," &c. 

After this action was completed the Council appointed Messrs. 
Thomas B. Barton, John James Chew, J. Minor, Wm. Allen and 
Beverly E. Wellford a committee to superintend the entire work 
and see that it was done according to the plans and specifications. 
And so a question that had vexed the people of the town for more 
than thirty years, and had caused considerable friction between the 
hustings court and the Common Council, was settled and the town 
was to have a new courthouse. 

The building was completed in 1852, when the courts and clerks 
were removed to spacious and comfortable quarters, and have re- 
mained there to the present day. The south wing on the lower 
floor has been used for fire engines until the companies were dis- 
banded prior to the war; but, for several years in the past, they 
have been used for the public schools of the city, while the large 
room on the second floor is used for an armory. The vault, for the 
records and papers of all the courts of the past and present, as well 
as of those of the Common Council, is ample for the purpose and 
absolutely fire-proof. The building is one of the handsomest in 
the State and always attracts the attention of strangers. 



* Thomas B. Barton, John James Chew and Beverly R. Wellford, of the com- 
mittee, were not members of the Council, but appointed from the body of the 
citizens. 




"The Lodge" at Mary Washington Monument. Constructed of 
Virginia Granite for Superintendent of 
Monument and Grounds. 

(See page 160) 




The "Wallace Library," now near its completion. The building and 
library a donation by the late Capt. C. Wistar Wallace. 
(See page 14.j) 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 143 

The old courthouse, that was torn down to make room for the 
new one, was provided with a bell for calling the people together. 
It was used to call public meetings, to notify the people of the 
assembling of the courts, and, until another bell was provided for 
the purpose, to sound the alarms for tires. This bell now hangs in 
the belfry of the present courthouse. It was presented to the 
town by Silas Wood in 1828 and has been on duty more than three- 
quarters of a century. Mr. Wood married a Fredericksburg lady, 
and it is reported that he was a believer in the adage that a fair 
exchange (rather an exchange for the fair) was not robbery; 
therefore, as he had taken one bell (belle) from Fredericksburg 
he ought to give it another in exchange. The bell has this inscrip- 
tion on it : "Eevere, Boston. Presented to the Corporation of 
Fredericksburg by Silas Wood, A. D. 1828." 

MARKET-HOUSE, OR TOWN" HALL. 

The first market-house, or town hall, Fredericksburg had, of 
which we have any account, either by record or tradition, was 
located on the west side of Main street, just below the present 
"Market alley." It was constructed mainly of brick, and had 
several rooms in it that were used for the courts, the Common 
Council, balls, sociables, public meetings and lodge rooms. The 
Common Council held its sessions in that building, when it organ- 
ized at the "coifee-house," which no doubt was one of the rooms in 
the market-house, after the rooms were properly fitted up, and con- 
tinued there from 1781 until the building was taken down in 1813. 

At what period the market-house was built we do not know, but 
it was certainly prior to 1752, as we have record evidence of its 
existence at that time, and also evidence that it needed repairs, 
which shows that it had been standing for some years. During the 
Eevolutionary war colonial troops used a portion of the building 
for barracks, and it was in this house that the great peace ball was 
given in 1783, which was attended by General AVashington and his 
mother. In the year 1813 this old building was taken down and 
the present market-house erected. 

While this information was obtained from Benj. Peyton, a very 



144 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

old colored man, who died some twenty-five years ago, who assisted 
in taking down the old and erecting the new building, the truth 
of it is borne out by the records. He was a youth at the time, 
learning the trade of brick mason, and was employed on both build- 
ings. The present market-house is a substantial, two-story brick 
building, with market lot in the rear, market stalls in the base- 
ment and work shops for the city water and gas works. It has 
two wings, which have been at different times used for school rooms 
and printing offices, but are now used, the south wing for the Coun- 
cil Chamber and the north wing for the commissioner of revenue 
and city tax collector. The second floor is used by the Washington 
Guards as a reading room. In 1824 the building was brilliantly 
illuminated and beautifully decorated for a grand ball and recep- 
tion in honor of Gen. Lafayette, who was then visiting this country, 
and passed through Fredericksburg, where he remained for several 
days. 

THE FIEE-HOUSE. 

The substantial brick house for the Fire Department, just south 
of the courthouse, was erected in 1890. It is two stories high, 
with a belfry on the front part of the building. The first floor 
is used for the reels, the hook and ladder truck and other fire 
apparatus. The belfry, or tower, is so constructed that in addition 
to its holding the fire bell, the fire hose can be suspended in it for 
drying after a fire. 

SCHOOL BUILDINGS. 

At present we have but two school buildings, one at the corner of 
Main and Lewis streets, known as the Union House, and the other 
at the corner of Princess Ann and Wolfe streets. The historical 
Union House, used by the white pupils, was built in the first part 
of the last century by a Mr. Eoss for a residence and is quite sub- 
stantial, being constructed of brick and spacious, and is three 
stories high, with a basement. Mr. Eoss was a Frenchman, and 
royally entertained Gen. Lafayette and his retinue when he visited 
Fredericksburg in 1824. Seven grades occupy this building, while 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 145 

three grades are provided for elsewhere. The school authorities, 
in the discharge of their duties, have repeatedly called attention of 
the City Council to the fact that this building vi^as inadequate for 
the rapidly increasing school population; that it was constructed 
for a residence and not for school purposes, the rooms being too 
small for the large number of pupils that had to be crowded in 
them. 

A year ago conditions were investigated by the School Com- 
mittee of the City Council (Prof. S. W. Somerville, chairman), 
which resulted in a movement of said committee to provide a suit- 
able building for the schools. Soon plans and specifications were 
drawn and laid before the Council which were fully considered and 
finally adopted, and the committee was instructed to advertise for 
bids, let the contract and have the building completed as soon as 
l^ossible. Work is now progressing on the building, which is to be 
quite a commodious one, with twelve rooms, with all the modern 
improvements as to heating, fire protection, &c. The contract 
price (Mr. E. C Heflin, contractor, and Mr. Frank P. Stearns, in- 
spector,) is $37,700, and the building is to be completed by Feb- 
ruary 1, 1909. 

The only objection that any one could ofiier against these changes 
(and no one is likely to offer it) is the demolition of the venerable 
landmark, so long known as the Union House and the headquarters 
of Gen. Lafayette when he visited the town for the last time. 

The school building at the corner of Princess Ann and Wolfe 
streets, a two-story, brick structure, with four spacious rooms, was 
constructed for, and is occupied by, the colored schools. For years 
after its construction it was found to be large enough to accom- 
modate all the grades of that school, but when a grammar depart- 
ment was added this building was found to be fully occupied and 
the high grade had to be provided for elsewhere. 

THE WALLACE LIBEART. 

By his will Capt. C. Wistar Wallace, a valuable citizen of the 
town, who was born and raised in Fredericksburg, and who died 
May 20, 1907, left to the town, under certain conditions, $15,000 



146 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

for a public library, which was to bear his name. The conditions 
were that the city was to adopt legal papers binding itself to 
establish said librar}'-, within three years of the donor's death, as a 
permanent institution of the city and properly maintain the same ; 
that the city was not to expend more than $5,000 of the legacy for 
the purchase of a suitable lot and the erection thereon of a suitable 
library building, and the balance of the legacy was to be expended 
for the purchase of books for the library. These books are to be 
purchased by a board not to exceed five members, to be chosen from 
time to time by the President of the University of Virginia, Wash- 
ington and Lee, Eiehmond College and Randolph Macon College. 
In order to make these conditions binding upon the city, it was 
provided that necessary legislation should be procured by the 
General Assembly of Virginia as might be necessary to authorize 
and enable the city to comply with all of the conditions of the 
bequest. 

The whole matter having been laid before the City Council and 
explained by the city attorney, Mr. St. Geo. E. Fitzhugh, and dis- 
cussed, that body adopted the following : 

*Be it resolved, that the city of Fredericksburg, Va., decides to 
establish and maintain a public library to be known as the "Wallace 
Library," and hereby accepts the said bequest of $15,000 upon the 
conditions and according to the terms of said bequest, and hereby 
binds itself to carry out the same. 

Under the provisions of the Code of Virginia the duty of ap- 
pointing the board of directors of this library devolved upon Major 
Thomas P. Wallace, Mayor of the town, the Council concurring. 
The following letter, therefore, was communicated to the Council 
by the Mayor : 

"I herewith transmit, in pursuance to the resolution of your hon- 
orable body, passed at your meeting on the 18th day of July, 1907, 
the following named citizens, who shall constitute the board of 
directors contemplated by your resolutions : St. Geo. R. Fitzhugh, 
S. J. Quinn, A. T. Embrey, Eev. J. W. Eoseboro, D. D., James S. 
Knox, E. D. Cole, A. P. Eowe, B. P. Willis and James T. Lowery. 



Council proceedings, July 18, 1907. 



History of Frederichshurg, Yirginia 147 

The board of directors organized by the election of Mr. St. Geo. 
E. Fitzhngh, president, and S. J. Quinn, clerk. 

The Council and the General Assembly united in permitting the 
library building to be constructed on the courthouse lot, and the 
board of directors authorized the construction of the building to be 
proceeded with at once. It is a two-story house, with basement, 
and is now nearing completion. It is constructed under the direc- 
tion of Mr. Wm. E. Bradley, chairman of the Public Property Com- 
mittee, Mr. Geo W. Wroten, contractor, and Mr. A. M. Garner, 
inspector. 

THE NOEMAL SCHOOL BUILDING. 

In addition to these public buildings the General Assembly has 
appropriated $25,000 and will supplement that with $25,000 addi- 
tional to constiTict in or near the town a female normal school. 
The board of directors of this institution are now endeavoring to 
select a site for this school, and will likely succeed in the near 
future. The buildings will be commenced next Spring and pushed 
to completion. 

The United States Government has also appropriated money for 
the erection of a very commodious brick building on the corner of 
Princess Ann and Hanover streets. This site has already been pur- 
chased by the government and will soon be in condition for the 
brick masons and carpenters. The work, however, has been de- 
layed for an additional appropriation, in order to enable them to 
construct such a building as was contemplated by the architect of 
the postoffice department. When the building is completed it is to 
be occupied by the postoffice. 

Having inspected the public buildings of the town, and discussed 
those now in course of erection and those which soon will be, we 
will now visit the private historical buildings and take a view of 
the monument erected by the ladies of the country to Mary, the 
mother of the illustrious Washington, and the handsome statue 
of Gen. Hugh Mercer, recently erected by the United States Gov- 
ernment, who stands upon his pedestal, sword in hand, ready to 
strike for Liberty and Independence, for Truth and Victory. They 
both stand on Washington avenue. 



CHAPTER XI 

Ancient and Historical Buildings — Mary Washington Monument — 
Gen. Mercer's Statue — Mary Washington's Will, &c. 

In stating that Fredericksburg has more ancient reminiscent and 
historical buildings than any other town of its size m this country, 
we do not fear successful contradiction. Fredericksburg is one 
of the oldest towns in the State and has from its settlement been 
the center of refinement and culture. Here the young men of this 
section of Virginia were taught and imbibed those principles of 
liberty and justice that made them leaders in the movement against 
oppression, which resulted in our constitutional rights and religious 
liberty. Here they were equipped for all the duties of life in what- 
ever station they might be placed. Here was the home and birth- 
place of men who commanded armies, controlled navies, swayed 
statesmen, electrified assemblies, and many of those homes and 
birth-houses are still standing, and it will appear but natural if 
they shall be pointed out and written about by the inhabitants of 
Fredericksburg with patriotic pride. Notwithstanding the quaint 
architecture of many of them, and the ravages of time upon them, 
they are dear to us and are regarded as heirlooms of the town which 
have witnessed the advent and exit of many generations. 

Among the oldest houses now in Fredericksburg are the resi- 
dence of the late William A. Little, the Mary Washington House 
and the Rising Sun Hotel. It is impossible to give the order of 
seniority of these buildings, because we have no way of ascertaining 
when they were built. Mr. Little, several years ago, so renewed 
and extended his residence and adorned it as to almost destroy Its 
ancient identity. This old mansion has recently passed to Mr. 
John C. Melville. 

The Rising Sun Hotel, located on the west side of Main street, 
just above Fauquier, is one of the oldest buildings now standing. 
It Is of the old style of architecture of wooden buildings that pre- 
vailed in the first settlement of the country, which, notwithstand- 
ing its hoary age and frequent necessary repairs, has never been 

[ 148 ] 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 149 

changed. In the first of the eighteenth century, and even before 
the Eevolutionary war, it was one of the leading hotels of the town, 
and was the stopping place of many of the Southern senators, 
representatives and other dignitaries as they Journey to and from 
Washington city. 

It is claimed that the eccentric John Eandolph, of Eoanoke, has 
more than once addressed the people of the town from the steps of 
this building. General George Weedon, long years before he 
entered the Colonial Army for American Independence, kept hotel 
in this house. Just prior to that war it became the property of 
General Gustavus B. Wallace, a Eevolutionary patriot, and it has 
remained in the Wallace family until the death of Capt. C. Wistar 
Wallace, a public spirited citizen, a little over one year ago. At 
his death, May 20, 1907, it became the property of the Society for 
the Preservation of the Antiquities of A^irginia, by the provisions 
of his will. The Fredericksburg branch of the society has charge 
of the building, a one and a half story wooden structure, and now 
has it in good condition and open for the inspection of those who 
would like to live for a short time in the far distant past, when 
Mrs. Livingston was the "doctress and coffee-woman" of the town. 
That society has renovated the building and it is now in good 
repair. It has not been kept as a hotel since the Civil war. 

The handsome residence erected by Mr. Stannard, on the lot 
now occupied by Mr. George W. Shepherd, was destroyed by fire in 
the great conflagration that occurred here in 1807, which is men- 
tioned elsewhere. The fire originated in that house and had made 
considerable headway before it was discovered. In the year 1815 
the large, brick residence now standing on that lot was erected by 
Mr. Eobert Mackay, a merchant of the town and Mayor for two 
years, from 1817 to 1819. It is said that the cost of erecting that 
building, and beautifying the grounds, was thirty thousand dollars, 
and it so embarassed Mr. Mackay that he never recovered from it. 

For a number of years this place was the residence and home of 
Thomas Seddon, a wealthy gentleman, who died there in 1831. 
As is said elsewhere herein, he was the father of James A. Seddon, 
secretary of War of the Confederate States, who, it is claimed by 



150 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

some persons, was born there, although his biographers say, and it 
is substantiated by his relatives, that he was born in Falmouth, in 
Stafford county. It is not disputed, however, that Secretary Sed- 
don spent his boyhood days in that building, having moved there 
when he was quite young, but his birthplace is beyond doubt as his 
biographers and relatives state it, as he was born the same year this 
residence was built, and Mr. Mackay occupied it for some years 
before Mr. Seddon moved there. 

The old, one and a half story frame house, which stands on the 
east side of Princess Ann street, between Prussia and Wolfe streets, 
just below Shiloh Baptist church (new site), was at one time owned 
by James Monroe. He was elected to a seat in the Legislature, 
and the law required that members of the General Assembly should 
be owners of real estate. In order to make him eligible his 
uncle gave him a pocket deed to this house and lot. This was 
the first civil office, except that of Common Councilman of Freder- 
icksburg, Mr. Monroe ever held. The house at the time stood on 
a lot in the upper part of the town and was without the wings it 
has at present. Mr. Monroe's boarding place was located on 
the same lot on which now stands the handsome residence of Mrs. 
James H. Bradley. His law office was in the row of low, brick 
buildings, formerly known as the "City Lunch," on Charles street, 
in rear of Colonel E. D. Cole's store. 

The "Sentry Box," at the lower end of Main street, was the resi- 
dence of General George Weedon, of Eevolutionary fame, and was 
afterwards owned and occupied by Colonel Hugh Mercer, a son 
of General Hugh Mercer, who was killed at the battle of Princeton, 
and a nephew of General Weedon, to whom it was devised by 
General Weedon. We are unable to state when this house was 
erected or who built it. It is doubtless one of the oldest buildings 
in town. It is a large two-story frame house, with a wide hall through 
the center and overlooks the Eappahannock river. It has been 
known as the "Sentry Box" as far back as the mind of our oldest 
inhabitant goes, and the past generations knew it by that name. Tra- 
dition has brought the name down to us and we need not stretch 
our imaginations as to the "why it was so called." From the upper 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 151 

story of the southeast end of this stately building is a beautiful 
and unobstructed view of the river for some distance, and there 
sentinels were placed at various times during the Eevolutionary 
war, to watch and give the alarm of the approach of the enemy. 
It was thus used for three wars to much advantage to the side with 
which Fredericksburg was in sympathy — the Eevolution, as above 
mentioned, the war of 1812 and the Civil war, or the War between 
the States. Another thing that gives the "Sentry Box" additional 
historical interest is the claim that has been made, which may need 
verification, that in this house has been received and entertained 
every President of the United States from George Washington to 
James Buchanan. The property is now owned and occupied by 
Mr. 0. D. Foster, a veteran of the Confederate army. 
^^The splendid two-story brick residence, owned and occupied by 
Gen. Daniel D. Wheeler, of the United States army, on the east side 
of lower Main street, was built by Eoger Dixon, a gentleman of 
means, who owned most of the land in the lower end of the town 
about 1764. A few years after its construction Mr. Dixon died, 
and most, if not all of his property, was purchased by Dr. Charles 
Mortimer. Dr. Mortimer was one of Mary Washington's phy- 
sicians, and tradition has it that the last visit she made was to her 
much-loved physician; that upon her return home she was taken 
down with cancer and after that never left her home. 

Of one of the many delightful dinings and balls at this splendid 
mansion, so frequent in that day with the "well to do folks" of Vir- 
ginia, Mrs. Eoger A. Prior, in "the Mother of Washington and Her 
Times" says, "Little Maria Mortimer, aged sixteen, was at the 
Fredericksburg ball. Her father. Dr. Charles Mortimer, issued 
invitations at the ball for a great dinner to the distinguished stran- 
gers the next day but one, and his wife (Sarah Griffin Fauntleroy), 
being too ill to preside, that honor fell to the daughter of the house. 
The house, an immense pile of English brick, ( ?) still stands on 
the lower edge of the town, facing Main street, with a garden 
sloping to the river, where Dr. Mortimer's own tobacco ships used 
to run up to discharge their return English cargoes, by a channel 
long since disused and filled up. * * * The table, as little 



153 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

Maria described it in after years, groaned with every delicacy of 
land and water, served in massive pewter dishes, polished until they 
shone again. The chief sat beside the master of the house at the 
long table, although at his own house his place was always at the 
side of the table among his guests. Little Maria, Vith her hair 
cruped high,' was taken in by the Marquis Lafayette, or Count 
d'Estaing, or Count Eochambeau — they were all present — and the 
little lady's heart was in her mouth, she said, although she danced 
with every one of them at the ball — nay, with Bettie Lewis's uncle 
George himself !" 

Dr. Mortimer was the first Mayor of Fredericksburg. His 
remains are buried near the center of Hurkamp Park, which was 
for nearly a century a public burying ground. As has been said, he 
was Mary Washington's physician, but not the only one at her 
late illness, for it is quite certain that Dr. Elisha Hall, who was the 
grandfather of Dr. Horace B. Hall, and who lived on the lot now 
occupied by Dr. J. E. Tompkin's residence, was also one of her 
physicians in her last days. This is shown beyond a doubt by a 
letter, still preserved from Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, to 
Dr. Elisha Hall, his cousin, written July 6, 1789, a short time be- 
fore Mrs. Washington's death. Dr. Hall had written to him for 
his experience and advice for cancer treatment and received the 
following : 

"The respectable age and character of your venerable patient 
lead me to regret that it is not in my power to suggest a remedy 
for the cure of the disorder you have described in her breast. I 
know nothing of the root you mention, found in Carolina and 
Georgia, but, from a variety of inquiries and experiments, I am 
disposed to believe that there does not exist in the vegetable king- 
dom an antidote to cancers. All the supposed vegetable remedies 
I have heard of are compounds of some mineral caustics. The ar- 
senic is the most powerful of any of them. It is the basis of Dr. 
Martin's powder. I have used it in many eases with success, but 
have failed in some. From your account of Mrs. Washington's 
breast I am afraid no great good can be expected from the use of 
it. Perhaps it may cleanse it, and thereby retard its spreading. 



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;^The Dam of the Water Power Co., the Canal emerging from left corner 
furnishes power for town. 

(See page 329) / 




'Meditation Rock," Mary Washington's favorite retreat for reading, 
prayer and meditation, 

(See page 157) 



History of Frederic'ksburg , Virginia ' 153 

You may try it diluted in water. Continue the application of 
opium and camphor, and wash it frequently with a decoction of red 
clover. Give anodynes, when necessary, and support the system 
with bark and wine. Under this treatment she may live com- 
fortably many years, and finally die of old age." / 

The house on the south corner of Prince Edward and Fauquier 
streets, purchased in 1898 by Mrs. Bernice Hart, tradition ''says, 
was for over one hundred years the clerk's office, and the court 
records of the trustees of the town were kept there. There may 
have been a court held in that small place under the Colonial char- 
ter of the town, but not a criminal court since that time, as the 
records show to the contrary. The records of courts held here' 
before the War of the Eevolution — if any were held here' — and the 
record of proceedings of the trustees cannot be found at present. 
The house was a small, one and a half story frame building, 
similar in architecture to the old part of the Mary Washington 
House. The additions made to it in recent years have completely 
destroyed its original form and architecture and have given it a 
modern appearance. No one, of course, knows when it was built, 
but, judging from its st3de and the material of which it was con- 
structed, it must take its place with the oldest of our ancient build- 
ings. 

"Federal Hill," on Hanover street, owned and occupied by Mrs. 
H. Theodore Wight, was, in the latter part of the eighteenth and 
early part of the nineteenth centuries, the home of Thomas Eeade 
Eootes, who was one of the most distinguished lawyers of his day. 
His third daughter was Sarah Eobinson, who married Colonel 
John A. Cobb, of North Carolina, a son of Howell Cobb, of Vir- 
ginia. Soon after his marriage Colonel Cobb settled in Georgia, 
where were born those two distinguished lawyers and soldiers, 
Howell and Thomas Eeade Eootes Cobb. The latter was killed in 
front of the Stevens House, at the foot of Marye's Heights, on the 
13th of December, 1862, it is claimed, by a shell, which was said to 
have been thrown from a gun stationed at Federal Hill, where his 
mother was born and married. A recent writer in a Northern 
journal, however, claims that General Cobb was killed by a shell 



154 History of FredericTcshurg, Virginia 

thrown from the Stafford side of the river. But both accounts 
differ from the report of General Kershaw, who took command of 
the line when General Cobb was wounded. In his report of the 
battle he says General Cobb was killed by a sharp-shooter stationed 
in one of the houses to his left on Hanover street.* As General 
Kershaw was on the ground a few minutes after General Cobb was 
wounded, and saw and talked with him after he was wounded, his 
version is more than likely the correct one. No one knows when or 
by whom Federal Hill was built. At one time the property be- 
longed to a gentleman by the name of Lovell, who moved to Fau- 
quier county, and it may be he erected the residence. 

The old, one and a half story frame building on the corner of 
Prince Edward and Fauquier streets, now owned and occupied by 
Mrs. Mary Knox Moncure, takes its place among the oldest build- 
ings of the town. It was the birth-place and home of John For- 
sythe, who made such a brilliant record as a Statesman from 
Georgia, to which State he moved while a young man. His father 
was Eobert Forsythe, a major in the Eevolutionary war, who died 
in Fredericksburg early in the nineteenth century. 

This house was also said to have been the home of John Dawson, 
an old bachelor, who represented this district in Congress from 1797 
to 1814. His success at the ballot-box was due as much, perhaps, 
if not more, to his declaring himself a friend to the poor man (a 
hobby much ridden these days by politicians) than to any other 
one thing. He is said to have created quite a sensation in the 
courthouse in Fredericksburg during one of his heated campaigns, 
which gained him many votes. Political feeling ran high, the peo- 
ple were much stirred up, the canvas was exciting and the result 
doubtful. A public meeting had been extensively advertised to 
take place at the courthouse, and the building was early filled to its 
. capacity to hear a joint discussion between the Congressional can- 
didates. Mr. Dawson, a few minutes late, reached the courthouse, 
and, finding his way blocked by the dense crowd, shouted at the top 
of his voice from the door — "Make way, gentlemen, for the poor 
man's friend !" All eyes were at once turned to the speaker, and. 



* See War of the RebelUon, Series 1, Vol. 21, page 590. 



History of Fredericlshurg, Virginia 155 

seeing it was John Dawson, the candidate, the crowd parted and 
he was escorted through to the stand, amid thundering applause. 
It is needless to say he was reelected to Congress. 

The old, frame building on the south corner of Main and Amelia 
streets, one and a half stories high, for many years of the first of 
the nineteenth century was occupied by a Mr. Henderson as a 
store, and was known for more than a century as Henderson's 
corner. It is a very old building and prior to the Revolutionary 
war, while political feeling was almost at fever heat, those who 
opposed resistance to the Mother Country congregated at this 
corner and discussed the "state of the country." This gave it the 
name of "Tory Corner," by which it was known for many years 
afterwards. This was the only building left in the track of the 
great fire of 1807, and has not been used as a storehouse for more 
than half a century. 

The venerable brick mansion, known as "Kenmore," facing 
Washington avenue, and the residence of Clarance Randolph 
Howard, Esq., was built by Colonel Fielding Lewis, a man of great 
wealth, and who owned a large body of land west of the town. The 
bricks of which the house was built, tradition had it, came from 
England, but that is hardly possible, as elegant bricks were manu- 
factured in this country at that time — in the seventeen forties^ — 
and the best of clay is found in that locality, where signs of a 
brick-yard can now be found. The interior stucco work of this 
colonial mansion is probably equal in workmanship to the best in 
this country, and is said to have been done by expert Englishmen. 
It has stood for a century and a half without repairs, so far as is 
known, until some fifteen years ago, when Mr, Wm. Key Howard 
gave it some slight touches, which compare favorably with the old 
work. Col. Lewis, for his second wife, selected Miss Bettie Washing- 
ton, sister of Gen. George Washington, and to this beautiful mansion 
she was taken as a bride, and lived there until a few years before 
her death. Col. Lewis was an officer in the Patriot army and com- 
manded a division at the Siege of Yorktown, where Cornwallis sur- 
rendered and where the Seven Years' war ended. He was an 
ardent patriot, and during the Revolutionary war, at one time, 



156 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

superintended the manufacture of arms, shells and shot on the 
north side of the Eappahannock river, just above Falmouth. The 
ruins of the old forge are still to be seen there, and also the old 
prison barracks, where some German prisoners were kept during 
that struggle. The garrison was commanded by Colonel Enever. 
Colonel Lewis was also a magistrate in the town after the war, a 
member of the City Council and represented the county in the Leg- 
islature. 

He died in December, 1781, and, it is said, is buried under the 
front steps of St. George's Episcopal church. His wife, Bettie, 
survived him sixteen years. In the latter part of her life she went 
to Culpeper county and lived with one of her children, where she 
died and was buried. Colonal Fielding Lewis was the father of 
Captain Eobert Lewis, who was one of President Washington's 
private secretaries, and Mayor of Fredericksburg from 1821 to the 
day of his death, February 11, 1829. Captain Lewis delivered 
the address of welcome to General Lafayette on his visit to the town 
in 1824. 

Mary, the mother of Washington, must have lived in Fredericks- 
burg the most of her widowhood, which was about forty-six years. 
Some time after her husband's death, on the opposite side of the 
Eappahannock river, she moved into the town, where she brought 
up her illustrious son George to manhood. The dwelling she occu- 
pied during that time is now standing on the west corner of 
Charley and Lewis streets. Until some fifteen years ago this old 
residence was owned and occupied by private individuals, but just 
prior to the World's Fair in Chicago a party from that city was 
negotiating for it, with a view of transferring it to Chicago. 
While a difference of five hundred dollars in the price was under 
consideration some ladies of Fredericksburg, who opposed its being 
disturbed, communicated the condition of things to the Society for 
the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, at Eichmond, who at once 
purchased the property at four thousand and five hundred dollars. 
The Society had the buildings put in good repairs and the pur- 
chase is considered a valuable addition to the possessions of the 
Society. 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 157 

It is a plain, substantial, old fashioned one and a half story 
dwelling, of the prevailing order of architecture of that period, 
and though it has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired, the 
distinctive features of architecture and general appearance have 
been faithfully preserved. Mrs. Mary Washington died in the 
front room of this building in 1789, and was buried on a spot 
which she had selected for her grave there, on a part of the Ken- 
more tract, which belonged to the estate of Colonel Fielding Lewis, 
her son-in-law. 

THE MARY V^ASHINGTOIST MONUMENT. 

Within a few steps of the place where Mary, the mother of Wash- 
ington, was buried is a ledge of rocks and a beautiful grove of 
original oak trees, much larger then in area than at present, to which 
she used often to resort for private reading, meditation and prayer. 
The grave was marked by a small, marble slab, appropriately 
inscribed. About forty-five years after her death a stately marble 
monument, designed to mark her grave and perpetuate her memory, 
was partly constructed by the private munificence of Mr. Silas 
Burrows, a wealthy merchant of Kew York. 

The comer-stone of this proposed monument was laid on the 7th 
of May, 1833, with an imposing military and civic display, by 
Fredericksburg Lodge, JSTo. 4, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, 
President Andrew Jackson, Past- Grand Master of Masons in Ten- 
nessee, being present and participating. This monument, because 
of the failure of Mr. Burrows in business, remained in a half com- 
pleted condition for nearly sixty years and was greatly mutilated by 
time and relic hunters. 

An appeal for a Congressional appropriation to restore and com- 
plete the structure by the United States Government, made by a 
bill, introduced in the Forty-third Congress by Hon. James B. 
Sener, then representing this Congressional district, was unsuccess- 
ful, notwithstanding his patriotic efforts were seconded by a strong 
appeal of the Mayor and Common Council of Fredericksburg and 



158 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

unanimously recommended by a Congressional committee, who 
visited the place, of which Hon. Horace Manard, of Tennessee, 
afterward Post-Master General, was chairman. A similar effort 
was made some years thereafter by Hon. George T. Garrison, re- 
presenting this district in Congress with the same result. 

Upon the failure of the efforts of these two members of Congress, 
aided by the city authorities, to secure the completion of the monu- 
ment by the government, came the women's opportunity. They 
were deeply interested in the subject, and cherished an honest pride 
in having the monument completed to perpetuate the memory and 
virtues of the greatest of American women. 

In 1889, the centennial year of the death of this venerated lady, 
an association was formed by the devoted and patriotic ladies of 
Fredericksburg, with Mrs. James P. Smith as their leader, who 
resolved to spare no time or effort to raise the necessary money 
to complete the structure, and thus save the grave of this sainted 
woman from oblivion. A systematic correspondence and appeals 
were commenced, and in a short time, mainly, if not altogether, 
through the influence of the Predericksburg association, a national 
association was formed in Washington, with Mrs. Chief-Justice 
Waite as president. These two associations cooperating, other 
strong appeals were sent out to the patriotic women of the United 
States, soliciting contributions, and soon money began to flow into 
the treasury of the association, until a sufficient sum was raised to 
complete the work. 

A sufficient amount of money being in hand this perplexing 
question arose — should the old monument be renovated and com- 
pleted, or should it be set aside and a new one constructed? This 
gave rise to considerable controvers}^^ because there was quite a 
division of sentiment, and serious results were feared by members 
of both associations. This difficulty was met, however, by an order 
to have the unfinished monument examined by an expert, who, upon 
a thorough investigation, reported that it was so broken and muti- 
lated that it could not be repaired, and so plans for a new monu- 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 159 

ment were ordered. The plan submitted by Mr. Wm. J. Crawford, 
of Buffalo, New York, was adopted by the ladies and to him was 
intrusted the work of erecting the monument on the site of the 
unfinished structure, under which the remains of this venerable and 
venerated woman reposed. The monument is a square base, with 
a solid granite shaft fifty-one and a half feet high — total height, 
fifty-five feet — with the words "Mary, the Mother of Washington," 
in raised letters, cut on the base. The material of the old monu- 
ment was broken up and placed in the foundation of the new one, 
except such of the fluted columns as remained unbroken, which were 
donated to different institutions. One of them was given to Fred- 
ericksburg Lodge of Masons, of this place, by Mr. Crawford, the 
architect, which is now in the lodge room. 

In due time the mon anient was finished to the satisfaction of 
both the Fredericksburg and Washington associations, which was 
accepted, and the 10th of May, 1894, was designated as the time 
for its dedication. The Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge, which had 
laid the corner-stone of the old monument, was invited to conduct 
the ceremonies of dedicating the new, but it gracefully turned that 
honor over to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, which performed the 
work in good style, escorted and assisted by Lodges No. 4 and 
No. 22 of Alexandria. 

The day for the dedication of the monument dawned beautiful 
and clear and found everything in readiness for the grand event. 
Besides the National Association being largely represented from 
Washington, headed by Mrs. Waite, there were President Grover 
Cleveland, with most of his cabinet and their wives ; Vice-President 
A. E. Stevenson and lady, Chief-Justice Fuller, Justice Harlan. 
Senators and Eepresentatives, Governor Charles T. O'Ferrall and 
Staff, the volunteer militia from different portions of the State, the 
Grand Lodge of Masons of Virginia, with Fredericksburg Lodge, 
No. 4, and Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, and distin- 
guished men and Masons from different parts of the country. 

The streets of the town were thronged with thousands of people 
from far and near, eager and anxious to witness the ceremonies. 
Never before was such a vast number of people seen in Fredericks- 



160 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

burg, except at the great battle in December, 1862. The dedi- 
catory services were conducted by the Grand Lodge of Masons of 
Virginia, Major Mann Page, Jr., Grand Master,* which were 
solemn and impressive. Addresses, appropriate to the occasion, 
were made by Mayor A. P. Eowe, Governor Charles T. O'Ferrall, 
President Grover Cleveland and Mr. Blair Lee, who were followed 
by Senator John W. Daniel, the orator of the occasion. 

Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, gave a grand banquet at the opera 
house in the afternoon to the Masonic fraternity and several hun- 
dred invited guests, which was presided over by Judge James B, 
Sener. On that interesting occasion' addresses were made by sev- 
eral distinguished guests, including President Cleveland, Vice- 
President Stevenson, Justice Harlan and others. The Marine 
band was present and furnished music of the highest order for 
both the dedication and banquet. Since the monument was 
finished the associations have erected a comfortable granite building 
on the grounds for a residence and office for the custodian of the 
monument and the grounds, and Mrs. John T. Goolrick. a de- 
scendant of George Mason, occupies that position. 

MARY Washington's v^^ill. 

The last will and testament of Mary Washington has for many 
years attracted general interest, and numerous visitors call at the 
courthouse to inspect and feast their eyes upon the original docu- 
ment. So precious does the court regard this relic that an order 
was made for its preservation, and it is now is a case and receives 
the special attention and care of Mr. A. B. Yates, the polite and 
accommodating clerk of the court. The will is in these words: 

"In the name of God, amen. I, Mary Washington, of Freder- 
icksburg, in the county of Spots3dvania, being in good health, but 
calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and willing to dispose 



* In his excitement, Grand Master Page dedicated the monument to Mary, 
the mother of our illustrious brother, George H. Washington. A brother re- 
marked to another, "I didn't liuow there was an H in Washington's name. 
What does it stand for?" As quici? as thought the shrewd Essex lawyer re- 
sponded. "Hatchet — George Hatchet I" The fun that incident excited is not 
over with yet. 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 161 

of what remains of my earthly estate, do make and publish this 
my last will, recommending my soul into the hands of my Creator, 
hoping for a remission of all my sins through the merits and media- 
tion of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, I dispose of all 
my worldly estate as follows : 

Imprimis. I give to my son General George "Washington all my 
lands on Accokeek Eun, in the county of Stafford, and also my 
negro boy, George, to him and his heirs forever; also my best bed, 
bedstead, and Virginia cloth curtains (the same that stands in my 
best room), my quilted blue-and-white quilt and my best dressing 
glass. 

Item. I give and devise to my son, Charles Washington my 
negro man, Tom, to him and his assigiis forever. 

Item. I give and devise to my daughter, Betty Lewis, my phaeton 
and my bay horse. 

Item. I give and devise to my daughter-in-law, Hannah Wash- 
ington, my purple cloth cloak lined with shay. 

Item, I give and bequeath to my grand son, Corbin Washington 
my negro wench, old Bet, my riding chair, and two black horses, 
to him and his assigns forever. 

Item. I give and bequeath to my grand son. Fielding Lewis, 
my negro man, Frederick, to him and his assigns forever; also 
eight silver table spoons, half of my crockery ware, and the blue- 
and-white tea china, with book-case, oval table, one bed, bedstead, 
one pair sheets, one pair blankets and white cotton counterpane, 
two table cloths, six red leather chairs, half my pewter, and one half 
of my iron kitchen furniture. 

Item. I give and devise to my grand son, Lawrence Lewis, my 
negro wench, Lydia, to him and his assigns forever. 

Item. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter, Betty Carter, 
my negro woman, little Bet, and her future increase, to her and her 
assigns forever; also my largest looking glass, my walnut writing 
desk with drawers, a square dining table, one bed, bedstead, bolster, 
one pillow, one blanket and pair of sheets, white Virginia cloth 
counterpane and purple curtains, my red-and-white tea china, tea 
11 



162 History of Frecleric'kshurg, Virginia 

spoons and the otlier half of my pewter, crockery-ware, and the 
remainder of m}^ iron kitchen furniture. 

Item. I give to my grand son, George Washington, my next best 
dressing glass, one bed, bedstead, bolster, one pillow, one pair 
sheets, one blanket and counterpane. 

Item. I devise all my wearing apparel to be equally divided 
between my grand daughters, Betty Carter, Fanny Ball and Milly 
Washington; but should my daughter, Betty Lewis, fancy any one, 
two or three articles, she is to have them before a division thereof. 

Lastly. I nominate and appoint my said son. General George 
Washington, executor of this my will, and as I owe few or no debts, 
I desire my executor to give no security nor to appraise my estate, 
but desire the same may be allotted to my devisees with as little 
trouble and delay as may be, desiring their acceptance thereof as all , 
the token I now have to give them of my love for them. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 
20th day of May, 1788. 

Maky Waspiington". 

Witness John Ferneyliougli. 

Signed, sealed and published in our presence, and signed by us 
in the jDresence of the said Mary Washington, and at her desire. 

J. Mercee, 
Joseph Walker." 

The will was written by Judge James Mercer, first President of 
the Court of Appeals, or "Chief-Justice of the General Court." 

THE mercer monument. 

In the year 1906 the government of the United States erected a 
monument to General Hugh Mercer, who was mortally wounded at 
Princeton, IST. J., while gallantly leading his men in a charge 
against the British in 1777. He lived one week in great suffering, 
when he died and was buried near where he fell, but afterwards 
removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he now sleeps. Gen. Mercer 
was born in Scotland, studied medicine at Aberdeen and graduated 
with high honors. After graduating he soon rose to distinction as 




The Presbj-terian Church. 




The Methodist Church. 
rSee page 211 » 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 163 

a surgeon and physician and did much service in the army. He 
was at the battle of Culloden Moor^ Scotland, where his party was 
badly defeated, and those not taken prisoners fled to other countries 
to save their lives. Gen. Mercer came to this country and settled in 
Pennsylvania. He was with Gen. Braddock, who was killed at 
Fort Duquesne, and, being thrown Avith Gen. Washington, became 
attached to him and came to Fredericksburg "to be near him," land- 
ing here in 1763. He practised medicine and established a drug 
store at the corner of Main and Amelia streets.* Gen. Mercer 
married Isabella Wallace and lived at the "Sentry Box" with Geo. 
Weedon, Avho married his wife's sister, until the beginning of the 
Eevolutionary War. Soon after his death Congress appropriated 
$5,000 for the erection of a monument in this place to his memory, 
but the matter was overlooked and the gratitude of the government 
for his services was not exhibited to the extent of a memorial until 
the year 1906, one hundred and twenty-nine years after his death. 
In 1905 a bill was passed by Congress appropriating $25,000 to 
erect a monument to perpetuate the memory of the grand hero — 
two-thirds of the interest of the amount appropriated in 1777 — 
and he now appears in heroic size, on his pedestal, on Washington 
avenue, in the attitude of a patriot, drawn sword in hand, ready to 
strike for Home and Country — Liberty and Independence. 

We naturally uncover our heads while we "behold this friend of 
Washington — this heroic defender of America !" 



* One tradition is that this drug store was at the corner of Princess Ann 
and Amelia streets, where Mr. John Stansbury Wallace lives ; but another tra- 
dition locates it at the corner of Main and Amelia, most likely adjoining the 
corner house. This tradition is strengthened by finding, some time ago, while 
repairing the house, many old papers and other things that must have come 
from a drug store, and no other such store was ever known at that place. 



CHAPTER XII 

Hotels of the Town, old and new — Agricultural Fairs — Ferries 
and Toll Bridges — Care of the Dependent Poor — City Water 
Worlcs — City Gas Works — Electric Light — Telephone Com- 
pany — Fire Department, &c. 

Eredericksburg, from the time it was first chartered^ found itself 
^on the main line of travel from Korth to South and vice versa. 
Eor this reason it was the main point for stopping, if the traveller 
could reach it even by journeying a few hours after dark. As the 
postoffice department came into existence and the mail matter in- 
creased, the pony had to give way for the small vehicle, and the 
small vehicle for a larger one, and the larger one for the 
stage, and the one stage for two, three, four and five, for 
Fredericksburg was a great mail distributing office, and the travel 
to and fro, stopping in the town, became immense. This necessi- 
tated the construction and opening of inns, and so the town became 
famous for its many elegant hotels. This continued until broken 
up by the rapid transit of steamboats and railroads, where the 
travellers found floating palaces and moving cafes. They look 
not for the hotel in small towns — they have their dining cars of 
eatables and drinkables. But let us not forget the village hotel, 
our former friend "where we slaked our thirst, ate to the full," 
and where we lost ourselves in "balmy sleep, nature's kind re- 
storer." 

The old time hotels, which have passed out of the memory of the 
present generation, will no doubt prove one of the most interesting 
chapters of this historical sketch of the town. The ground upon 
which many of them stood is now bare or occupied by other build- 
ings, and the names of many of their keepers have been lost to the 
town. A short reference to some of these public resorts will prob- 

[ 164] 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 165 

ably refresh the minds of the citizens of wliat was at one time one 
of the principal features of the town, and will introduce to the 
younger generation the names of these hotels and their keepers, so 
intimately associated with the "good old times." For most of these 
references we are indebted to the memory and pen of Mr. Wm. F. 
Farish, who died at Lanhams, Md., a few years since. He was 
born here eighty-four years ago and spent his boyhood days in the- 
town. 

Near the present opera house, on Main street, was a hotel and 
oyster house, kept by Mr. Thomas Curtis. This place was head- 
quarters for the politicians, and it was there the merits and de- 
merits of candidates were discussed and their success or defeat was- 
determined upon. It was what would be called to-day the Tam- 
many Hall of Fredericksburg. The beginning of the war was the 
end of this hotel, as it was destroyed during the shelling of the 
town in December, 1862. 

The Eappahannock House was located on the east side of Main 
street, about half way between George and Hanover streets. It 
was kept by Thomas Goodwin. The name of this house was after- 
wards changed to the Shakespeare, and was conducted by a Mr. 
Parker. It was burned down soon after the close of the Civil war 
and store houses were built on the ground it occupied. 

The Farmers' Hotel was situated on the west corner of Main and! 
Hanover streets, and extended up Hanover street to Jail alley,, 
then known as Hay Scales alley. A part of this building is still 
standing on the corner of Hanover street and Jail Alley and is- 
now OAvned and occupied by Mr. M. E. Ferrell, who has changed it 
into a residence. The main part of the building, on the corner of 
Main and Hanover streets, was burnt many years ago. In its 
stead a large, brick structure has recently been erected, called the 
Enterprise Building, the lower part of which is used for store and 
postoffice and the upper floors for a public hall, sleeping apart- 
ments and offices. This Farmers' Hotel was regarded as the lead- 
ing hotel of the town in its day, and was headquarters for both 
stage lines — Extra Billy (afterwards Governor and Confederate- 



166 History of B'redericl:sljurg, Virginia 

General) Smith's* and Colonel Porter's. It was kept at different 
times by James Young, Wm. E. Bowen, Bowen and Eamsay, Tur- 
ner H. Eamsay, Charles E. Tackett, Peter Goolrick and Daniel 
Bradford. 

The Exchange Hotel, so well known and in operation to-day, on 
the south corner of Main and Hanover streets, was built in 1837 
by Wm. D. Green. The brick work of this building, which was 
destroyed by fire in 1850, is said to have been the handsomest in the 
State. The front walls were of pressed brick, oil finished and were 
of a beautiful red. The first building had three stories and a hall 
for theatrical purposes, with an entrance on Hanover street. This 
hall was known as "Green's Assembly," and very fine companies 
occupied it, many of them for several nights in succession. The 
present three-story building was commenced soon after the first one 
was burnt, but was not fully completed until after the late Civil 
war. The Exchange was first opened by Mrs. Wm. D. Green and 
was succeeded by Mrs. Fenton Brooke Smith. Since the Civil war 
it has been conducted respectively by W. T. Freaner, Captain 
George Henry Peyton, Cadmus B. Luck, Cotton and Hills, H. B. 
Tuttle, John Ultz and W. L. Laughlin, who is the present land- 
lord. 

Just above the Exchange Hotel, on Hanover street, was the 
Eagle Hotel. It has recently been refitted for families and room- 
renters and is known as the "Eagle Flats." The Eagle was very 

* General Smith got his name Extra Billy while in the stage business, long 
before he was either General or Governor Smith. It is reported to have hap- 
pened in this way : At certain seasons of the year, before the days of rail- 
roads, travel was very heavy and far beyond the capacity of the regular stages 
on the road, which was the only means of travel over land at that time. When 
this occurred Billy Smith, as he was called, would put on an extra stage, and 
if the travel still increased he would put on another, and so on, until some- 
times he would have on the road four or five stages, where one usually did the 
work. On this account, and because of his unsurpassed politeness, he became 
popular with travellers. On this occasion a traveller was anxious to get to 
Washington, and could get no seat in the stage. In hustling around he found 
two or three others who were anxious to go, but, like himself, could not get 
accommodations on any part of the stage, and the agent declared it impossible 
to provide for them. The impatient and anxious traveller cried out "Where is 
Extra Billy?" Extra Billy was sent for, an extra stage was provided and the 
travellers went on their way rejoicing, but "Extra Billy" remained with Mr. 
. Smith, following him to his grave. 



History of Fredericlsburg, Virginia 167 

popular in its day and was a favorite stopping place for the farm- 
ers. It had a very good patronage also from passengers on the 
two stage lines. No hotel has been kept there for many years. In 
its day it was conducted by James Newby, James Cunningham, 
Jesse Pullen, Wm. P. Quisenberry and Wm. H. Murphy. 

The Alhambra, on Main street, just below the Exchange Hotel, 
was first kept by James Timberlake, who was succeeded by Samuel 
Stone, and he by Charles P. Barlosius. After the death of Mr. 
Barlosius, several years ago, the house was repaired and remodelled 
by Capt. Thomas P. Wallace and leased to John W. Allison, Jr., 
who conducted it some time as the Alsonia. Some years ago it was 
purchased by Mr. Michael Long, who conducted it until his death. 
It is now a restaurant. 

On the south corner of Main and Charlotte streets stood the 
Indian Queen Hotel. This was a fine, old building, erected prob- 
ably in colonial times for a hotel, with a porch the entire length of 
the building, with colonnade. It was the favorite stopping 
place for members of Congress and other travellers going to and 
from Washington.* The first proprietor of the Indian Queen, in 
the memory of our oldest inhabitant, was Jacob Herndon. He 
was succeeded by James Young, John Gray, Eobert Blackburn and 
Mr. Eawlings. The last to occupy it was a Mr. Whiting, and 
during his occupancy, in May 1832, the building was destroyed by 
fire and was never rebuilt. The lot to this large building extended 
to Princess Ann street, and the stage yard and stables were located 
where the Southern Foundry now stands. It was in this building 
that the statute of religious liberty was considered, adopted and 
written, and it is a matter of great regret that the house was de- 
stroyed. The committee that produced this wonderful document, 
which is given elsewhere, was composed of Thomas Jefferson, 



* It is said on one occasion John Randolpli, of Roanoke, stopped here. It 
was soon known, and the Democrats congregated to entertain him. They pre- 
pared a bowl of punch in an adjoining room, and when it was ready Mr. Ran- 
dolph was invited to meet the gentlemen and join them in something to drink. 
In a gruff voice, he replied to the committee that waited on him, "I don't drink 
with strangers, and if I can't rest here one night without being disturbed by a 
mob, I will drive to the Sycamores. The Sycamores was a hotel twelve miles 
from town on the Bowling Green road. It was said he was not again dis- 
turbed. 



168 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

George Wythe^ Archibald Gary, George Mason and Ludwell Lee. 

On the south corner of Main and Frederick streets stood Travel- 
ler's Eest, a tavern of considerable notoriety and popularity, kept 
by Jesse Pullen. It was headquarters for all circiises and manag- 
erieS; and was frequented by large numbers of laboring men after 
their day's toil was over. Here were talked politics and the general 
topics of the day by the ward politicians, and where they laid 
schemes to carry elections. The house was destroyed some years 
before the Civil war and the lot remained vacant for nearly sixty 
years. 

The Western Hotel was located at the corner of Commerce and 
Charles streets, where Mr. Eobert T. Knox and Brother keep store. 
It was a frame building, and the business was conducted first by 
Thomas Procter, then by Walker Lucas, who was succeeded by Mr. 
Joseph Sanford. Mr. Sanford, some years before the war, tore the 
old frame building down and erected the present three and a half 
story brick structure and changed its name to the Planters' Hotel. 
During the Civil war it was conducted by Mr. Councellor Cole, and 
a short time after the war by a Mr. Mitzell. Since then it has not 
been kept as a hotel.* 

Liberty Hotel was located on Liberty street, then outside of the 
corporate limits, but now a part of the town. For many years it 
was kept by Boswell Alsop and was headquarters for the sporting 
men of the town. General Sam Houston, after his return from^ 
frontier life, spent much of his time at this hotel, and quite a 
number of the leading men of the South, on their journeys to and 
from Washington, made it their stopping place. It is an old- 
fashioned frame house, one story and a half high, of the same style 
of architecture as the Mary Washington house, and shows that both 
of them were built about the same time. 



* At the corner of Commerce and Charles streets, in front of this hotel, is a 
stone block about two and a half feet high and some two feet in diameter. It 
was placed there many years before the Civil war, it is said, for the sale and 
annual hire of slaves. The slave to be sold was required to stand on this 
block in the presence of the gathered traders, when he or she was "cried out" 
by the auctioneer to the highest bidder. Those slaves who were publicly hired 
out for the year also took their stand on this block and were hired out at the 
highest price bid. There is probably no relic in Fredericksburg that calls back 
more vividly the days of slavery than does this stone block. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 169 

AGEICULTURAL FAIRS. 

We have no means of ascertaining where the fairs previously re- 
ferred to were held or how long they were continued under the act 
of 1769, or any similar act that might have been passed by the Leg- 
islature after Virginia became a State. In the first of the nine- 
teenth century an agricultural fair was held on the Kenmore farm, 
near the Kenmore building. The gate leading to the grounds was 
on Lewis street, where it intersects with Winchester street. The 
stock was exhibited on the fair grounds and the ladies' department 
was kept on the upper floor of the present city hall. 

At one time Mr. Samuel Gordon, then proprietor of Kenmore, 
was president of the association, who was succeeded by Hon. James 
M. Garnett, of Essex county. It was the custom of this association 
to have an address by the president on the first night of the exhibi- 
tion on agriculture and stock raising, which was one of the main 
features of the fair, and drew together a large number of farmers 
and others to hear it. 

A silver cup, awarded to Mr. Jacob Gore for the best wheat fan 
exhibited at one of these fairs, is now in possession of Police Officer 
Charles A. Gore, a grandson of Mr. Jacob Gore. It is in a good state 
of preservation, the inscription on it being "Presented by the Fred- 
ericksburg Agricultural Society, 1823." On the left of the inscrip- 
tion is a wheat fan, beautifully engraved, near which is the letter 
J, which stands for Jacob, and on the right is another fan, near 
which is the letter G, standing for Gore. We do not know when 
these annual fairs ceased. 

About the year 1850, possibly a little earlier, fair grounds were 
laid out on Green House Hill, covering most of that part of the 
town where Prof. A. B. Bowering now lives. A Mr. Wliite, of 
Caroline county, was the first president, Mr. W. TsT. Wellford suc- 
ceeding him to that office. The first steam engine for threshing 
wheat ever seen in this coimtry was exhibited at one of these fairs 
by the Hope Foundry, of this place, then operated by Messrs. Scott 
and Herndon. It was constructed by Mr. Benjamin Bowering, fore- 
man of the works. A committee of farmers was appointed to ex- 
amine it and report upon its merits. After witnessing its work the 



170 History of Frederichsliurg , Virginia 

committee condemned it^ because "it would burn all the wheat up." 
Fairs were held on these grounds about three years. 

A year or so after the Green House, Hill fair grounds were closed, 
the grounds on which Major W. S. Embrey now lives and those in 
front of him for some distance east of Spotswood street were pur- 
chased and converted into fair grounds. Very successful fairs 
were held there until the commencement of the Civil war, when 
they were closed. The last fair held on these grounds was in 1860, 
only a few months before hostilities actually commenced. At one 
time Major J. Horace Lacy was president of this society and Major 
J. Harrison Kelly was secretary. 

After the closing of the fair grounds, in 18G0, Fredericksburg 
had no other fair for twenty-five years. In 1887 steps were taken 
by the citizens of the town to inaugurate annual fairs. A charter 
for a society was obtained, stock was subscribed for and the Amaret 
farm, on the Fall Hill road west of the town and bordering on the 
Eappahannock river, was purchased and converted into excellent 
fair grounds. The society inaugurating these fairs is known as the 
Eappahannock Valley Agricultural and Mechanical Society, and its 
annual fairs have been a great success. The presidents of the 
society from its organization have been Hon. A. P. Eowe, of Fred- 
ericksburg; Charles Pierson, Esq., of Caroline county; Hon. S. 
Wellford Corbin, of King George county; Mr. Oliver Eastburn, of 
Spotsylvania county; Prank W. Smith, of Spotsylvania county; 
Captain Terence McCracken, of Fredericksburg; Colonel E. Horsey 
Cole, of Fredericksburg; Capt. M. B. Eowe, of Spotsylvania; Chas. 
H. Hurkamp, of Stafford; Henry Dannehl, of Fredericksburg, and 
Thomas P. Morrison, of Spotsylvania. 

FERRIES A^ID TOLL BRIDGES. 

The first ferry across the Eappahannock river, provided by law, 
was an act of the Plouse of Burgesses passed in 1748. This act 
provided for a ferry from the Fredericksburg warehouse, where 
the tobacco was deposited and inspected by public, bonded inspec- 
tors, to the land of Anthony Strother, on the Stafford side of the 
river. The charge for a horse, which seems to have been the onlv 



History of Fredericlsburg, Virginia I'^l 

one regulated by law, was fixed at three pence. In the year 1796 
a petition was presented to the General Assembly of Virginia for 
leave to build a toll-bridge across the Eappahannock river from 
the lower line of the land of William Fitzhugh, of Chatham. The 
Legislature granted the request and Mr. Fitzhugh built the bridge, 
which was kept open for the public travel as a toll-bridge until 
1889. 

This bridge has been destroyed several times, some times by 
floods and at other times by fire, and has been rebuilt, but the dates 
of its destruction have passed from the minds of our oldest citizens. 
The only dates that can be given, with anything like accuracy, are, 
that in 1820 it was destroyed by a great flood, in 1861 by fire, in 
accordance with military orders, and in 1889 by another great flood. 
In 1890 the city purchased the site and constructed the present iron 
bridge, which is about one thousand feet long. On its completion 
it was opened to free travel and has been continued such to the 
present time. It was at first a toll-bridge and owned by private 
parties for nearly a century, and yet so far as we can discover there 
have been but three owners up to the time it was purchased by the 
city. These three were William Fitzhugh, Esq., Judge John Coul- 
ter and Charles S. Scott. 

ISTear the beginning of the nineteenth century a covered bridge 
spanned the river at the foot of Wolfe street, landing on the farm 
on the opposite side of the Eappahannock. The farm was then 
owned by a Mr. Thompson. No one knows when this bridge was 
built or to whom it belonged. It was known as the Stafford 
bridge, as the one above it was known as the Chatham bridge, 
until it was purchased by Mr. Scott, after which it was known as 
Scott's bridge. The two bridges were destroyed in the flood of 
1820 and the Stafford bridge was never rebuilt. 

CAEE OF THE DEPENDENT POOR. 

The flrst move made by the Common Council, or any other town 
organization, to provide for the dependent poor of the town was 
on the 25th of January, 1805, when the hustings court appointed 
five commissioners^ — Elisha Thatcher, James Smock, Wm. Benson, 



l'J'2 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

Benjamin Botts and Wm. Taylor— to "enquire into the probable 
and comparative expense of erecting or renting a poor and work 
house for the reception of the poor of the corporation, and ascer- 
tain the probable salary of a steward for such poor and work house 
and the annual expense of supporting the same/' 

These commissioners were empowered to receive propositions 
from persons desiring to rent suitable houses for the purpose, and 
to ascertain who would be willing to act as steward and report at 
the next session of the court. The report was submitted at the 
March term of the court and was approved and filed; when 
another commission was appointed, with Dr. George French as 
chairman, to "rent a house for a term of one or more years," at a 
cost not exceeding fifty pounds, and John F. GauUier was ap- 
pointed steward of the poor and work house. 

The steward was to be "allowed a salary at the rate of one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars per annum, with two rooms and so much 
provisions as may be necessary for himself and family," which 
should not exceed three in number. He was to be at his post at all 
times to receive the poor into the poor and Avork house, to "treat 
them with tenderness and humanity, but at the same time to make 
them work." For the better government of the institution five 
inspectors were appointed by the court, consisting of George French, 
from the lower end of the town to Wolfe street ; James Brown, from 
Wolfe to Hanover street ; James Smock, from Hanover to AYilliam 
street; Stephen Winchester, from William to Lewis street, and 
Wm. Taylor, from Lewis street to the upper end of town. From 
the record it appears that John Minor was appointed inspector for 
the town at large. 

The inspectors were instructed to place all the poor in the poor 
and work house and to "advertise a request to the inhabitants to 
assist no poor person residing in town, lest imposition and idle- 
ness be encouraged." This manner of providing for the poor 
seems to have been continued to the beginning of the Civil war, 
and, in addition to looking after the steward and the inmates 
of the poor and work house, the inspectors (more frequently re- 
corded overseers of the poor), were to bind out all orphans who 
had no one to look after and provide for them. 




The Exchange Hotel. 
(See page 166) 




The Fredericksburg College. 
(See page 198) 



History of FredericJishurg, Virginia 173 

It is not stated in what part of the town the first poor house was 
located, but for many years before the Civil war it was located on 
the Lang property, near Gunnery spring, and afterwards the poor 
were quartered in a brick house near the western limit of Princess 
Elizabeth street, which was rented for the purpose and which is 
now owned by the Eichmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Eail- 
road Company. 

■ After the war, for about eighteen years, the poor were main- 
tained at the private houses, with such families as would agree to 
take them. In some instances the town paid rent for the houses 
for the families who would take one of the poor, and in others a 
stipulated amount per month for their maintenance. This manner 
of providing for the poor caused much complaint, both from the 
city and its dependents. The city authorities charged that the 
cost per capita was entirely too much, running annually in the 
aggregate from two to three thousand dollars, and the poor com- 
plained that they were neglected in both food and clothing. 

But the overseer of the poor (the number having been reduced 
from five to one under the city ordinances) aided and assisted by a 
committee of three from the Common Council, could do no better 
with the facilities at his disposal, and while the subject continued 
to be discussed the Council had been slow in making any change. 
This inaction, however, was not because the citizens did not favor 
providing better methods for taking care of the poor, because the 
public favored it, and the necessity was recognized, but because 
no member felt willing to take the lead in such a movement. 

In the Fall of 1882 a case of small pox broke out in town, and, 
strange as it may appear, it caused the erection of the present 
almshouse. The small pox case occurred near the corner of Prin- 
cess Ann and Frederick streets. The citizens in that part of the 
town became greatly alarmed and a stampede was threatened. An 
extra session of the Common Council was called in haste, to make 
arrangements for the removal of the patient (a colored man) to 
some isolated place. The Council met and discussed the matter, 
but it was found that there was no place to which he could be 
moved. The town owned no land where a temporary hospital could 



174 History of Frederichsburg , Virginia - 

be erected, and land owners declined to rent to the city, for spread- 
ing a tent or for erecting a temporary hospital. 

In this condition of things the economy of having an almshouse, 
in which to keep the poor, entered very largely into the discussion, 
and the result was the farm and residence of Mr. Frank Beckwith, 
on the hill about half a mile west of the town, was purchased for 
seventeen hundred dollars. The small pox patient, to the great 
delight of the citizens in the lower end of town, was at once sent 
to that place and the excitement subsided. 

The following year the residence on the farm was greatly en- 
larged and a commodious department for the colored poor was 
built, under the direction of the Committee on Poor of the Com- 
mon Council, consisting of Messrs. S. J. Quinn, E. D. Cole and 
M. B. Eowe, and the dependent poor of the town were sent to 
"Mount Nebo," which was the name given to the place, because of 
its commanding position and the splendid view of the town and 
surrounding country from that point. 

Since the poor have been kept at the almshouse they are better 
provided for and are better satisfied, besides they are more com- 
fortable than under the former system, and the expense of main- 
taining them has been reduced fully one-half. Mr. Albert Hooton, 
who was overseer of the poor of the town prior to the erection of 
the almshouse, was the first superintendent of the institution. Mr. 
Hooton died on the 23rd of November, 1897, and Mr. John Wesley 
Ball was elected to the vacancy and is now serving. Mr. A. Mason 
Garner is chairman of the committee of the Council having the 
almshouse in charge, and while it is conducted on economical prin- 
ciples, the poor are well provided for, in both food and clothing. 

WATEE WORKS. 

For more than one hundred years after the charter by the House 
of Burgesses the town was without water works of any description. 
About the year 1832 a private company constructed the Poplar 
Springs Water Works, which distributed through the principal 
streets of the town the elegant water from Poplar springs, located 
on the Plank road, half a mile west of the city. About ten years 



Histonj of Fredericksburg, Virginia 175 

aftenvards the Smith spring was added, which increased tlie 
supply. But notwithstanding the addition of the Smith spring 
the supply was very inadequate; yet for more than half a century 
these springs, together with street pumps, furnished the only supply 
the town had. The works were constructed by a !N^orthern con- 
tractor, whose name is not remembered, and are j^et operated. 
Since the Civil war these works were under the superintend ency 
of Captain Joseph ^Y. Sener, until his death, in 1889, since which 
time Mr. Eobert Lee Stolfregen has been superintendent. 

The inadequacy of the water supply for domestic and manu- 
facturing purjjoses, and the great necessity for fire protection, were 
subjects for the consideration of the Common Council for many 
years, without definite action. On several occasions committees 
were instructed to have surveys and estimates made for a system of 
water works, which were done and recommendations had been made 
by some of the committees that works should be constructed, but 
the Council in each case had failed to act upon them. As a case of 
small pox contributed to the erection of a long-needed almshouse, 
so a fire, that threatened the town with destruction, showing the 
authorities how helpless they wefe when confronted by flames, con- 
tributed to the construction of water works. 

The fire occurred in rear of George E. Chancellor's store in 1883, 
at the corner of Charles and Commerce streets, now conducted by 
M. S. Chancellor, and while it was confined to the premises and 
did but little damage, it threatened to be a serious conflagration. 
There was no fire department in town and no water to supply an 
engine, if one was sent from Eichmond. This aroused the author- 
ities and the people generalh', whose property was constantly 
threatened with destruction, and at the next meeting of the Council 
a plan was adopted for "an abundant supply of water for all pur- 
poses, including fire protection," -which was submitted to a vote of 
the citizens for their approval or disapproval. 

The plan submitted was adopted at the ballot-box by a large 
majority, and a special committee of the Council was appointed to 
carry out the will of the people, thus expressed, and construct the 
works, consisting of Messrs. S. J. Quinn, James S. Knox, Charles 



176 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

E. Hunter, Terence McCracken and Wm. E. Bradley. After 
arranging the necessary preliminaries the committee contracted 
with Colonel Wm. W. Taylor, of Philadelphia, who constructed the 
works and turned them over to the committee in the latter part of 
February, 1885, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Ben- 
jamin Bowering having been appointed by the committee to super- 
intend the laying of pipe, setting of the pump, etc. 

The introduction of water into the buildings, the extension of 
water mains, the changing of the old for newly-patented fire hy- 
drants, and the erection of additional fire hydrants since the works 
have been in possession of the town, together with additional 
pumps and steam engine and boiler, have increased the cost of the 
works to about fifty thousand dollars. At present there are about 
eighteeen miles of pipe, ranging in size from eight inches to one 
inch, and seventy-two fire hydrants. These hydrants are so located 
that they protect from fire all the property of the town. 

The reservoir pressure is from fifty to fifty-six pounds to the 
square inch, according to draught, which is sufficient to throw 
streams of watei over any of our ordinary buildings. The pres- 
sure, by the use of tiie pump, can be raised to one hundred pounds 
to the square inch. 

The water is taken from the Rappahannock river, which is 
known to furnish the softest and purest of water, the analysis show- 
ing that it is free from any foreign substance, and the reservoirs 
are so well arranged that the citizens are seldom served with water 
that is the least discolored. The works are under the control of a 
committee of the Common Council and a superintendent. Since 
their construction they have been under the superintendency of 
Captain S. J. Quinn, and they are in good condition and a paying 
investment to the city, at a comparative small cost to the con- 
sumers. The present water committee consists of Josiah P. Eowe, 
H. B. Lane and A. M. Garner. 

THE OLD GAS VS^ORKS. 

The old gas works of the town were constructed by a private 
company in 1843-44, at a cost, it is said, of about forty thousand 



History of Frederic'ksburg, Virginia 177 

dollars. The works have changed hands several times since their 
completion, it being a private company, and most of the stock 
holders residents of Philadelphia. In consequence of the wear and 
tear of the works, and the erection of an. electric plant in town some 
twelve years ago, which secured the contract for lighting the streets, 
the stock of the gas company depreciated very much in value, and 
an effort was made on the part of the town to purchase the works. 
For this purpose a special committee was appointed by the Com- 
mon Council, consisting of Messrs. Wm. I. King, M. G. Willis, 
James S. Knox, Wm. E. Bradley and John T. Knight. They 
entered into negotiations with the officers of the company and 
finally purchased the works at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. 
Since their purchase the works have been placed in good repair 
and the mains have been extended in many parts of the town where 
they did not before run. There were about nine miles of pipe,, but 
it was claimed by many who had examined the works that the plant 
was too small to supply the town, and there was much complaint 
of "no gas" on the part of the consumers, but it was then fashion- 
able to complain against the city even if you were getting what 
you wanted, and so the matter went on until the "spirit of improve- 
ment" struck the town and estimates for a new gas plant were 
ordered, and before many months passed it Avas decided that the 
old works must be abandoned and a new plant constructed on a 
new site. And so the work of construction commenced and went 
forward with great rapidity. After the new plant was completed, 
and had been in running order for some time, the superintendent 
was asked for an article on the works for this volume, and he re- 
marked that during the latter part of the year 1904 it became 
obvious that the old gas plant, which had been supplying the city 
with gas for fifty years, had gone beyond repair, and that for the 
sake of economy it would be necessary to erect a new plant. With 
this end in view a plot of ground was selected near the railroad 
depot and alongside the right-of-way of the railroad, and here the 
new works were built. Mr. Frederic Egner, an eminent gas engi- 
neer, was selected to draw the plans and engineer the construction. 
IS 



178 History of Fredericl-shurg, Virginia 

Early in May, 1905, ground was broken and work progressed 
rapidly, and on the 25th of JSTovember the first gas was made in the 
new plant, and by the 28th everything was working smoothly and 
the old plant was abandoned. The plant is what is known as a 
coal gas works, using soft coal for manufacturing the gas. The 
manufacturing end of the plant consists of two benches of inclined 
retorts, four to the bench, with half depths regenerative furnaces, 
and has a manufacturing capacity of 100,000 cubic feet of gas 
each day of twenty-four hours. 

Our plant is one of the most iiiodern in the country, and no small 
plant now built surpasses it. Mr. Wm. Fitzpatrick, who had faith- 
fully served the city as superintendent of the old plant for many 
years, retired upon the completion of the new plant and Mr. B. F. 
Bullock was made superintendent. Gas is $1.00 per thousand, and 
Mr. John C. Melville is chairman of the committee. 

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT. 

Fredericksburg was rather tardy in obtaining an electric liglit 
plant for street lighting, either through a private company or by 
city purchase. While the propriety of constructing a plant by the 
town was under consideration by the citizens, and often before the 
Council, application was made by a private company to erect one 
and the privilege was at once granted. In 1887 a plant of the 
Thompson-Houston system was erected by a Mr. NclSTett. Soon 
after its construction Mr. McNett formed a company, many of 
whose members were citizens of the town. It has been purchased 
by others and is now the Eappahannock Light Co., with some 
changes. It has furnished the town with arc lights for the streets 
and many of the buildings Avith incandescent lights. The dynamo 
and power house were first located at Knox's mill, above town, 
but afterwards removed above the Bridge Water mills, where they 
are at present. 

THE city's ELECTEIC LIGHT PLANT. 

The town authorities, concluding that our streets could be lighted 
better and at less cost if they had a plant of their own, arranged 
and purchased an outfit of machinery, wired the town and now have 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 179 

some seventy-five lights running. Those who opposed the city; 
owning its own light before the plant was constructed have now- 
changed their minds, not only as to the constancy and brilliancy ot 
the light, but also of the cost of lighting the streets. The plant 
is located between the silk and woolen mills and is in charge ot' 
the Light Committee, Mr. Wm. Key Howard, superintendent. 

TELEPHONE COMPANY. ' 

In 1^95 the Occoquan Woodbridge Telephone Company was or- 
ganized in Fredericksburg by a Mr. xlbner, of Occoquan, and a tele- 
phone line was erected. At first the undertaking did not appear to 
be popular and the company received very little encouragement. 
After the construction of the line the company, beginning with a 
small number of subscribers, grew rapidly in public favor and were, 
soon enjoying a liberal patronage. 

In 1897 all the property, rights and franchises were purchased hj 
a few of our enterprising citizens, who organized and changed the 
name of the company to the Eappahannock, Fredericksburg and 
Piedmont Telephone Company; but subsequently the Bell Com- 
pany extended their line throiTgh Fredericksburg to the South and 
the local company sold out to the Bell. The service, at first defec- 
tive, was placed in splendid condition, and the service now equals 
that of the most favored towns and cities. Since the construction 
of the Bell line the town has become the center of many private 
country lines, which place the citizens in communication with all 
contiguous communities as well as with the cities of the country.. 
The present manager of the local office is W. T. Jones. 

PIKE DEPARTMENT. 

More than a hundred years ago Fredericksburg had an organized 
fire department, and from reports, which, however, were seldom 
made, was sufficient in extinguishing fires. In the early part of the 
eighteenth century, when the town was built up mostly of wooden 
houses, with wooden chimneys, and the water was scarce and inac- 
cessible, several fires occurred that spread over considerable terri- 
tory and did great damage, but even in those instances, although.! 



180 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

the winds were high, the department did much to retard the pro- 
gress of the fires and finally got them under control. 

The first fire company organized in town was known as the 
Vigilant. It was organized in 1788 and the names of its members 
were certified to the hustings court and filed with the court papers, 
but their names were not placed on the record. How long this 
company remained in existence is not known, but in 1814 the Hope 
Company was organized, which was soon followed by the forma- 
tion of the Union. It is not known who commanded these com- 
panies when they were first organized, but we are told that long 
before the middle of the century the Hope was commanded by 
Charles C. Wellford and afterwards by John Pritchard, and the 
Union, about the same time, was commanded by Albert Gr. Lucas, 
who was succeeded by John M. Wliittemore. 

These fire companies had suction and force engines and got water 
from the river, street pumps, and sometimes from the canal west 
of the town, after it was constructed, using the source most conven- 
ient, and did efilective work. It is said the rivalry between these 
organizations was very great, the excitement in times of fires was 
intense, and often disputes would arise between the members as to 
which company did the most effective work, which often resulted in 
blows. ^Tien they were in their prime fires were frequent. 
Scarcely a week passed that a fire did not occur, and often two or 
three would take place inside of a week. Then there was a grand 
rush to see which company could get the first stream of water on 
the fire. 

The frequent fires soon led to the suspicion that some of the 
firemen originated and were responsible for many of them, and, 
strange to say, the disbandment of the companies was encouraged 
Iby the property owners of the town, as a means of preventing fires 
.and saving property. They were disbanded before the Civil war, 
•and since that time, until the year 1885, the town was without a 
fire department, and was without any means of contending with the 
liames, save the feeble efforts of citizens in what was styled "the 
bucket brigade." This name was applied to the large number 
of citizens, who, in times of fire, carried water in buckets to extin- 



History of FredericTcshurg, Virginia 181 

guish it^ and used "wet blankets" to prevent the flames from 
spreading to adjoining buildings. 

In 1885, after the completion of the present city water works, 
a new fire department, was organized, with thirty-three members, 
with Captain Terence McCracken as chief. This organization is 
very efficient, and has on several occasions saved the town from 
sweeping conflagrations. The department is now under the com- 
mand of John H. Eobinson, as chief, and consists of twenty-two 
members, all of whom render faithful and efficient service without 
compensation. 



CHAPTER XIII 

Volunteer Militia — The Confederate Cemetery — The National 
Cemetery — The Confederate Veterans — The Sons of Confed- 
erate Veterans — The Schools, Private and Public, &c. 

In times of peace and quiet;, in free America and even in con- 
:servative Virginia, it is necessary that cities should have some mili- 
tary organization that can be called upon to protect the citizens 
in their persons, rights and property in case of any emergency 
that might arise. It is true that such cases seldom occur in Vir- 
ginia, but if they should, it is necessary to have some organized 
force, under the laws of the State, to meet and put them down. 
This being true, Fredericksburg has, in all periods of her history, 
encouraged and financially assisted volunteer militia companies. 

And it can be truthfully stated that, in all the past of the town, 
the young men have shown a special fondness for military organi- 
zations, and, so far as we can gather from records and tradition, 
Fredericksburg has been well protected in this direction. It is 
very doubtful if at any time since Major Lawrence Smith seated 
himself "down at or neare" the falls of the Eappahannock river and 
manned a fort with one hundred and eleven men, Fredericksburg 
had not a military organization, either active or dormant, that she 
could easily call into service in case of need. It is quite certain 
■she has been well represented in every war since the settlement of 
the country, in which her sons have played conspicuous parts and 
have been commended for their gallantry and brilliant achieve- 
ments. 

One of the first companies remembered from tradition was com- 
manded by a Capt. Blackford, and is said to have been armed with 
wooden guns. This company was among the guard of honor to 
Gen. Lafayette when he was here in 1824. It met the General and 
his suite at the old Wilderness tavern, escorted him to Fredericks- 
burg, and, when he left, accompanied him as far as Aquia Creek, on 
the Potomac river. It did not last long as an organization. 

The first company remembered by the oldest inhabitants, which 

[ 182 ] 




The Home of Dr. Charles Mortimer, first Mayor. To her physician 

here was the last visit made by Mary Washington. 

Residence now bf Gen. D. D. Wheeler. 

(See page 151) 




The Eagle Hotel, now the Eagle Flats. 
(See page 166) 



History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 183 

lasted any length of time, was the Fredericksburg Guards, which 
was organized many years before the Civil war. It is not known 
exactly when it was formed or who was its first commander, but it 
is remembered that at different periods it was commanded by Cap- 
tains Wm, A. Jackson, Wm. M. Blackford, Eobert Smith, John 
Pritehard and John S. Porter, the order in which they served being 
in doubt. 

A company, known as the Mercer Eifles, was also organized and 
commanded by Capt. D. Lee Powell some years before the war, but 
in a year or so it was disbanded in consequence of the commander 
changing his residence to Eiehmond. 

In the early part of 1859 the Washington Guards was organized, 
with Capt. Joseph W. Sener as commander. It was well equipped 
and elegantly uniformed and drilled. When John Brown and his 
party were captured at Harper's Ferry in the Fall of 1859 by 
Colonel, afterwards Gen. Eobert E. Lee, and turned over to the 
State authorities, this company was ordered to Charlestown, by 
Governor Wise, to guard the prisoners, and remained there in that 
capacity until the last of the party was executed, when they were 
ordered home. 

In the same year, 1859, the Fredericksburg Grays was organized, 
with Captain Wm. S. Barton as commander. It is said this com- 
pany was called into existence because of the excited condition of 
the country and a determination on the part of the young men of 
the town to be ready for any emergency. On the return of the 
Washington Guards from Charlestown they were met at the railroad 
depot by the Grays, who extended them a warm welcome home, 
escorted them to the Shakespeare House, where a grand banquet 
was given them, which was followed by speeches and a good time. 

These two companies, before the war and preparatory thereto, 
were formed into a battalion, of which Captain Barton was made 
major, Eobert S. Chew becoming captain of the Grays. Many 
pleasant excursions and picnics were given by this battalion, which 
are well remembered by man}'', now living, who were participants 
and enjoyed them. But many of those who took part in those 
pleasant scenes have since then passed to the Great Beyond, and 



,184 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

those now with us show the marks of Time upon them and are 
patiently waiting for the last call that shall transfer them to the 
great army above. The battalion had a drum corps, consisting of 
eleven drums, which was presided over by Mr. Pipenbrick, of Fal- 
mouth, who was appointed drum major. 

A boy company, known as the Coleman Guards, commanded by 
Captain W. F. Gordon, was also organized just prior to the war. 
In 1860 great excitement was caused on the arrival of Eobinson's 
circus here, the charge having been made that some of the em- 
ployees or attaches had murdered a man by the name of Boulware 
at Port Eoyal the day before. Warrants were sworn out for the 
arrest of the supposed parties, and the three companies, Avith the 
civil authorities, arrested the entire circus and had the suspected 
parties before the Mayor. A two days' investigation disclosed 
no probable guilt and the circus was discharged from custody. 

Another military company was organized in the town in 1861, 
known as the Gordon Rifles, with Captain Robert H. Alexander as 
its commander. These three companies, at the outbreak of the 
war, were placed in the Thirtieth Virginia regiment of infantry, 
that did such noble service during the Civil war. The Washington 
Guards, which became Company A, was commanded by Capt. 
Joseph W. Sener. He was succeeded by Capt. George H. Peyton 
and Captain John K. Anderson. The Fredericksburg Grays be- 
came Company B and was commanded by Capt. Robert S. Chew, 
and, on his promotion to Colonel, by Capt. H. S. Doggett. Capt. 
Doggett was on detached duty the most of his official term as cap- 
tain and the company was commanded by Lieutenant James S. 
Knox in his absence, who was promoted to captain, but his com- 
mission never reached him. The Gordon Rifles became Company C 
and was commanded by Captain Robert H. Alexander and after- 
wards by Captain C. Wistar Wallace. 

After the war the Fredericksburg Grays was reorganized, with 
Samuel S. Brooke, now of Roanoke, as captain. He was succeeded 
in command by Captain Maurice B. Rowe, and he by the following 
commanders in the order named: Captain Terence McCracken, 
Captain Robert B. Berrey, Captain George A. Walker and Captain 
Frank H. Revere. 



History of Fredericlcshurg, Virginia 185 

When war was declared, between the United States and Spain, 
and volunteers were called for by the government, the Washington 
Guards, which had been reorganized by Captain Maurice B. Eowe, 
promptly responded and was mustered into the United States ser- 
vice as Company K of the Third Virginia regiment of infantry. 
It went into camp at Eichmond, Virginia, and was soon transferred 
to Camp Alger, named in honor of the then Secretary of War, near 
Washington city. Before these troops were ordered to the scene 
of action peace was declared and they were ordered back to Rich- 
mond and mustered out of service, having been in the service of the 
United States seven months. The company then returned to Fred- 
ericksburg. 

The Guards numbered one hundred and twelve men on the rolls, 
was a splendid body of patriotic young men and reflected credit 
upon the town. Soon after being discharged from the United 
States army the company was reorganized, reentered the service of 
the State and now numbers sixty-two ' men, under the command 
of Captain Thomas M. Larkin. They have often been called upon 
to discharge important and delicate service, and have responded 
with alacrity. 

In 1883 a colored volunteer company was organized in town, 
called the Garfield Light Infantry Blues. It was organized by 
Benjamin Scott, of Eichmond, who was its first captain. Captain 
Scott soon returned to his home in Eichmond and was succeeded in 
command by Captain Lucien G. Gilmer. This organization con- 
tinued in existence several years, but was finally disbanded, having 
fallen below the minimum number required by law. 

THE CONFEDERATE CEMETERY. 

Soon after the citizens of Fredericksburg returned to their deso- 
lated homes at the close of the Civil war, and had gotten their 
dwellings in a condition to be occupied, the thoughts of the patri- 
otic ladies were at once turned to the Confederate soldiers who had 
fallen and were buried in Fredericksburg and on the several 
adjacent battle-fields. They were anxious that the remains of 
these brave men should be gathered up and interred in some place 



186 History of Frederickshurg , Virginia 

where their dust would be preserved and the names of the known 
saved from oblivion. 

As a result of a consultation, and a call published in the news- 
papers of Fredericksburg, the ladies of the town met in the base- 
ment of the Presbyterian church on the 10th day of May, 1865, one 
month after the surrender of Gen. Lee, and organized the Ladies' 
Memorial Association of Fredericksburg, elected officers, appointed 
a board of directors, an executive committee and an advisory board. 
This was the first ladies' memorial association chartered in the 
South and among the first to decorate the soldiers' graves with 
flowers. ' 

The best methods for accomplishing the patriotic work of the as- 
sociation were discussed and adopted at this early date. The plan 
was to raise as much money in town and in Virginia as possible 
and then issue an appeal to be sent all through the Southern States 
for funds, because every Southern State was represented on the 
battle-fields in and around the town by their heroic dead. These 
appeals were sent out as soon as they could be gotten ready and had 
the desired effect. Funds soon began to flow into the treasury 
and a suitable site was selected, west of and adjoining the city 
cemetery, which was purchased, and the work of gathering up the 
dead commenced. The number gotten from the different battle- 
fields and buried in the ground purchased by the association num- 
bered about fifteen hundred. The circular sent out had, in addi- 
tion to the organization of the association and the list of officers in 
full, an appeal, which was as follows : 

"To all true hearted women and men, who would rescue from 
oblivion the memory of the brave, who died in defence of home and 
country, we present this appeal : The stern pressure of military 
necessity made it impossible, properly, to care for the remains of the 
gallant dead who fell on the bloody fields of Fredericksburg, Wild- 
erness, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse and in scores of 
skirmishes which, in a war less terrible, would have been reckoned 
as battles. 

"Our Association proposes to preserve a record, and, as far as 
possible, mark the spot where every Confederate soldier is buried iii 



Histonj of Frederic'ks'burg, Virginia 187 

this vicinity, wliether he fell on these memorable fields or other- 
wise died in the service. To the bereaved throughout our suffering 
South we pledge ourselves to spare no exertion to accomplish this 
work. 

''In a land stripped of enclosures and forests, desolated and im- 
poverished as ours, we cannot, without aid, guard these graves 
from exposure and possible desecration; we can only cover them 
with our native soil. And, with pious care, garland them with the 
wild flowers from the fields. But, with the generous aid and cor- 
dial cooperation of those who have suffered less, but who feel as 
deeply as we do on this subject, we confidently hope to accomplish 
far more — to purchase and adorn a cemetery, to remove thither the 
sacred dust scattered all over this region, and to erect some endur- 
ing tribute to the memory of our gallant dead. 

"Shall that noble army of martyrs, who, for years of toil and 
suffering, bore, in triumph, the 'Conquered- Banner^ from Chatta- 
nooga to Gettysburg, sleep on the fields of their fame unnoticed 
and unknown ? Shall their names pass from the knowledge of the 
living to be treasured only in the mind of Him 'to whom the 
memory of the just is precious?' 

"What spot so appropriate for the last resting place of these 
heroes, as some commanding eminence overlooking the memorable 
plain of Fredericksburg? And what nobler work for the hearts 
and hands of Southern women, than upon its summit to rear a 
monument to the unrecorded Confederate dead, which, through all 
time shall testify to the gratitude of the people for whom they so 
gloriously died? As no State, and scarcely a town or county 
throughout the limits of the late Confederacy, is unrepresented on 
these battle-fields, may we not hope that the cooperation required 
in order to accomplish our holy work will be as universal? 

"An act of the Legislature of Virginia will be obtained, incor- 
porating our Association, so that the property may be held perpetu- 
ally dedicated to its sacred uses. We solicit such contributions 
as the appreciative sympathy of friends in all parts of our country, 
and of the world, will extend us. As soon as sufficient means are 
obtained our Association will proceed to purchase and improve 



188 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

grounds apj)ropriate for a cemetery^ and remove thither the remains 
of the honored dead. 

"Our Association, although its organization is but recent, has 
been enabled to rescue from oblivion the names and places of bur- 
ial of many of the noble dead, who fell upon the fields of Freder- 
icksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and all the objects of the 
Association will be pressed as rapidly forward as the requisite 
means are procured. All auxiliary societies, which may be formed, 
are requested to correspond with our Association ; and, should they 
desire their contributions to be specially appropriated to the graves 
of any individuals, or of any particular State or section, the trust 
will be sacredly discharged. 

Mes. John H. Wallace, President. 
Miss Ann J. Carter, 

Corresponding Secretary. 

President — Mrs. John H. Wallace. 

Vice-Presidents — Mrs. J. H. Lacy, Mrs. Jane Ficklin, Mrs. 
James W. Pord, Mrs. A. P. T. Pitzhugh, Mrs. Pannie S. White. 

Board of Directors — Miss Mary G. Browne, Miss S. Preaner, 
Mrs. W. K. Howard,* Mrs. S. J. Jarvis, Mrs. E. A. Fitzgerald, Mrs. 
L. J. Huffman, Mrs. J. H. Bradley, Mrs. Magruder Maury, Mrs. 
Joseph Alsop, Mrs. Monroe Kelly, Miss Ellen P. Chew, Miss 
Lizzie Braxton. 

Treasurer — Dr. P. P. Wellford. 

Recording Secretaries — Miss L. G. Wellford, Mrs. Lucy Hern- 
don.* 

Corresponding Secretary — Miss Ann J. Carter. 

Assistant Secretaries — Miss V. S. Knox,* Miss Mary Thom, 
Miss Bettie L. Scott,* Miss Lizzie Alsop, Miss N. S.' Wellford, Miss 
Mary G. Browne, Mrs. L. T. Kearsley, Miss Helen G. Beale, Miss 
Nannie Taylor, Miss Virginia Goolrick, Miss S. Preaner, Miss 
Lizzie Braxton. - 

Executive Committee — Major J. H. Kelly, Thomas P. Knox, 
George Aler, J. W. Slaughter, Edwin Carter, Joseph W. Sener, 
Dr. L. B. Rose. 

* Yet living. * 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 189 

Advisory Committee — Gen. D. H. Maury, Gen. Daniel Ruggles, 
Gen. C. L. Stevenson, Col. R. S. Chew, Col. C. M. Braxton, Col. W. 
W. Fontaine, Major George Freaner, Major Chas. S. Green,* 
Capt. C. T. Goolrick, Capt. W. R. Mason,* Rev. M. Maury, Rev. T. 
W. Gilmer, Rev. Patrick Donelan, Rev. W. H. Williams, Rev. F. 
C. Tebbs, Mayor M. Slaughter, Judge R. C. L. Moncure,t A. A. 
Little, J. H. Kelly, Judge R. H. Coleman, John L. Marye, Jr., 
John E. Tackett, D. H. Gordon, W. P. Conway, J. L. Stansbury, 
Ab. P. Rowe, James B. Sener, W. K. Howard." 

In response to the appeal of the Association, liberal contributions 
were received from all the Southern States, with which the ground 
was purchased, the present cemetery laid out and the remains of all 
the Confederate dead, who were killed and buried throughout this 
community, gathered together, transferred to the cemetery and the 
graves marked with cedar posts. These posts were removed a 
few years afterwards and marble headstones took their places. The 
next work of the Association was to raise money for a monument 
to be placed in the center of the cemetery, and, as in their other 
patriotic work, the appeal was not in vain. The necessary amount 
was raised and the monument was erected and dedicated. Mr. 
Leyburn, of Lexington, Ya., contractor ; Mr. Cassell, of Baltimore, 
arcliitect. The stone used is gray granite and was taken from the 
farm of Mrs. Mary Downman, in Spotsylvania county. The monu- 
ment contains inscriptions as follows: 

On the east side— S. Carolina, Virginia, N". Carolina. 

On the north side^ — Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas. 

On the west side — Louisana, Mississippi, Texas. 

On the south side' — Georgia, Florida, Alabama. 

The monument stands on a mound about five feet high, and is 
five feet and six inches high without the statue. With the statue it 
is twenty feet in height. On the west side, cut in the granite, are 
muskets ; on the south side, a castle with battlements ; on the north 



* Yet living. 

tOne of the Judges of the Court of Appeals of Virg-inia for fourteen years before the 
war ,and president of said court for twelve years after the war. 



190 History of Fredericlcshurg, Virginia 

side, sabres; on the east side, cannon and the inscription "To the 
Confederate Dead." On each corner of the monument is a column 
of red granite, with gray granite plynth and base. The corner- 
stone was laid on the 4th of June, 1874, by Fredericksburg Lodge, 
ISTo. 4, A. E. & A. M., Grand Master Wm. H. Lambert presiding, 
and was completed and unveiled on Memorial Day, June 9, 1884. 
The statue of a Confederate soldier, at dress parade, which crowns 
the apex, is of bronze, and was manufactured by the Monumental 
Bridge Company, of Bridgeport, Conn. It was ordered through 
Mr. George T. Downing and placed in position by him. 

THE NATIONAL CEMETERY. 

The National Cemetery, in which were gathered and interred the 
Union soldiers who died in camp and were killed in the various 
battles in and around Fredericksburg, was commenced in 1865, 
soon after the close of the war. It is located on Willis's Hill, about 
half a mile south of the town. It is on the range of hills known 
in the war histories and correspondents as Marye's Heights, which 
overlooks the beautiful valley of the Eappahannock and affords a 
fine view of Fredericksburg and the surrounding country. It 
afforded a splendid location for the Confederate artillery at both 
battles of Fredericksburg, which did such fearful execution as the 
L^nion troops were advancing on General Lee's position. 

The remains of the Union soldiers were taken from their tem- 
porary graves and conveyed to the cemetery by a ''burial corps/' 
consisting of a large detail of Frederal soldiers and a few veterans 
employed by the superintendent. The work was continued for 
three or four years, and it was thought that all the dead had been 
cared for, but even now remains of soldiers are sometimes found in 
different places and turned over to the superintendent for inter- 
ment. The Fredericksburg cemetery is not the largest in area in 
the United States, but it has a larger number of interments in it 
than any other in the country. Up to the present time the inter- 
ments number 15,294, of these 2,496 are known and their names, 
regiments and State are registered in a book in the superintendent's 
office, and 12,798 are unknown. The superintendent of the ceme- 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 191 

tery is Major M. M. Jefferys, and under his management it is kept 
in good condition. 

The superintendent has a "lodge" or residence near the cemetery 
gate, constructed of stone. It is made of the stone taken from the 
historical stone wall, behind which the Confederates were stationed 
when they successfully resisted the many gallant charges of General 
Hancock's men on the 13th of December, 1863. Several years ago 
the government constructed a Macadamized road from the railroad 
depot to the cemetery, making it a pleasant drive to that "city of 
the dead," and it is visited by numbers of persons, both citizens 
and strangers. In 1901 Gen. Daniel Butterfleld erected a beauti- 
ful monument in the cemetery to the valor of the Fifth Army 
Corps, which he commanded, at a cost of $11,000. 

MAFEY CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETEKAXS. 

The Confederate veterans of Fredericksburg and surrounding 
country organized themselves into a camp in 1883. It was one 
of the iirst camps of the kind organized in the State and had quite 
a large membership. It was called Maury Camp in honor of 
General Dabney Herndon Maury, a native of Fredericksburg, who 
rose to the rank of major-general in the Confederate army, and dis- 
tinguished himself as a skillful commander as well as for conspic- 
uous gallantry on many fields of battle during the Civil war. 

Maury Camp flourished for several years, having at one time in 
the neighborhood of one hundred and fifty members, i^t first it 
was independent and separate from any other camp, but upon the 
organization of E. E. Lee Camp, of Eichmond, which obtained 
a charter from the General Assembly of Virginia, thereby giving 
it authority over other camps, Maury Camp obtained a charter 
from that organization, and holds its authority under that charter 
at present. 

For some cause in late years the camp has not been prosperous ; 
on the contrary, it has merely maintained its organization. Many 
of the members withdrew their membership or allowed their names 
to be dropped from the rolls, while those who still retain their 
membership, with a few exceptions, exhibit but little interest in the 



192 History of FredericTcshurg, Virginia 

affairs of the camp. Notwithstanding its decline, however, it has 
done much good in the past in assisting needy Confederate 
veterans, besides they have relieved the necessities of the widows 
and orphans of veterans, and have decently buried their old com- 
rades who have died in destitution. The camp has had for com- 
manders at different periods Colonel Eobert S. Chew, Judge John 
T. Goolrick, Capt. Daniel M. Lee, Thomas F. Proctor, Geo. Shep- 
herd and Capt. S. J. Quinn. At present Prof. A. B. Bowering is 
the commander and the camp seems to be taking on new life. 

SONS OF CONTEDERATE VETERANS. 

The organization of Maury Camp of Confederate Veterans was 
followed in a few years by the organization of the Sons of Con- 
federate Veterans. This camp came into existence on the 10th 
day of May, 1890. It was organized, mainly, if not entirely, 
through the efforts of Mr. James A. Turner, who was its first com- 
mander, and, by annual reelections, without opposition, he was con- 
tinued until he retired and Mr. Wm. H. Hurkamp was elected and 
is commander at this time. 

This camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was named in 
honor of Colonel Eobert S. Chew, who was, at the close of the war. 
Colonel of the Thirtieth Virginia regiment of infantry, a native of 
Fredericksburg and was honored and beloved by all who knew him. 
The camp has done a noble work in the way of looking after the 
comfort and supplying the needs of the destitute Confederate 
veterans, who are rapidly passing "over the river to rest under the 
shade of the trees," and providing for them a decent Christian 
burial when they shall have "answered the last roll call." 

As an organization the E. S. Chew Camp has attended nearly all 
the reunions of Confederate veterans in the State, and has taken 
as much interest in them as if they had been veterans instead 
of the sons of veterans. In all of these visitations the camp, by 
the discipline and military bearing of its members, soon won for 
itself a position in the front rank of Sons of Confederate Veterans 
in the South. About thirty of its members volunteered in the 
United States army in the War with Spain, some of whom are 




"Stevens House," on "Sunken Road"; the Confederate line of 
battle, 1862 and 1863, in front of fence. Gen. Thos. R. R. 
Cobb killed where gate swings to right. 
(See page 91) 






City Hall, in which are Mayor's Office, Council Chamber, etc., and 
where a ball was given in honor of Gen, Lafayette 
on his visit here in 1824. 
(See page 1441 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 193 

now in the regular army, holding important commissions. The 
camp has flourished from its organization, and has now nearly one 
hundred members on its rolls, who are earnest in their work and 
faithful to the memories of their fathers. 

THE SCHOOLS OF FREDERICKSBUKG. 

Fredericksburg, from its earliest days, possessed educational 
advantages, greatly in advance of many larger towns of the 
colonies. Soon after its establishment by the House of Burgesses, 
schools of a high order were established here by the best of educa- 
tors and it is highly probable that the leading men of the State — 
those who conducted public affairs in colonial times, and who were 
the first to oppose and resist British tyranny and who inaugurated 
and conducted the movement for separation and independence — 
were educated in those schools. And it can be safely said that 
from that time to the present Fredericksburg has not been without 
schools that would be creditable to any town. 

In 1796 a lottery scheme — which was a popular method of raising 
money in those days for such purposes — was chartered by the 
Legislature of the State for the purpose of raising money to erect 
a school building on what was known as the "old poor-house 
grounds," at present the property of Alexander Lang's estate near 
Gunnery Spring. Whether or not this scheme was successful is 
not known, but it is a fact that a male academy was established by 
some French refugees, gentlemen of education and refinement, who, 
having lost their fortunes, adopted teaching as a means of support. 
Many distinguished Statesmen and jurists, in after years, were 
educated at this school, among them was Judge John Tayloe 
Lomax, who, in his old age, when president of the Young Men's 
Christian x^ssociation of Fredericksburg, referred to his connection 
with this school by contrasting the teaching of the school of 
French philosophy of that day with the instruction of Christian 
teachers of a later period, showing the advantages of the latter. 

In a letter from Dr. John Brockenburg to Eev. Philip Slaughter, 
D. D., in 1846, about another matter, he said : "I had been entered 
as a student at the Fredericksburg Academy, then (1790) in high 

la 



194 History of Frederic'ksburg , Virginia 

repute, under the Eev. Mr. Ryan, an eminent classical scholar 
and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin." Dr. Brockenburg 
finished his education in this school, preparatory to entering a 
medical college in Edinburg, and speaks highly of it.* 

It is also claimed that Washington, Madison, Monroe, and others 
who made their mark as soldiers, statesmen, and in the various 
professions, were educated in the schools of Fredericksburg. 

The establishment of a female college at "Federal Hill," in the 
year 1789, and which was kept up by different teachers for half a 
century or more, was an important event in the history of the town, 
and, in connection with the male academy, gave to Fredericksburg 
great distinction as an educational center. 

On the 37th of September, 1795, a fund was created by the sale 
of lands, which were devised for the purpose by Mr. Archibald 
McPherson, which fund was held in trust by the Mayor and Com- 
mon Council of the town for the time being, and afterwards, by 
an act of the Legislature, by six trustees, annually appointed for 
the benefit of the Charity School of Fredericksburg. These trus- 
tees organized into a board, the first president being Major Ben- 
jamin Day, who continued as such to the day of his death. The 
school was kept in the brick building on the north side of Hanover 
street, just below the Masonic hall, now used by Miss Willie F. 
Schooler for her Hanover school. The funds derived by the sale 
of some of the McPherson property were afterwards supplemented 
by a legacy from Mr. Thomas Colson in 1805. 

In the back part of the room in which this male charity school 
was kept are to be found three tablets of marble let into the brick 
wall, in good preservation, with these inscriptions : 

"In memory of Mr. Archibald McPherson. He bequeathed his 
property to the trustees of this town for the education of the poor. 
By an act of the Legislature the funds were transferred to this in- 
stitution as best fulfilling the testator's charitable design. Died 
A. D. 1754; age 49." 

"In memory of Thomas Colson, Esq., who, by his last will and 



* Slaughter's Bristol Parish. Va., 2nd edition. 



\ ; 
1 



History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 195 

testament, contributed largelj^ to the permanent funds of this 
school. His benevolence claims the gratitude of the poor, and the 
respect of all. Died A. D. 1805." 

"In memory of Major Benjamin Day, one of the founders of 
this institution and its first president. This office he filled for 
twenty-six years with zeal and fidelity. As an humble tribute to 
his philanthropic services this simple monument is erected. Died 
A. D. 1821 ; age 69." 

On Major Day's tombstone, in the burial ground of Fredericks- 
burg Masonic Lodge, in reference to this school, is found these 
words : "The Male Charity School of Fredericksburg is chiefly 
indebted to him for its origin in 1795, and for its prosperity to his 
unremitted attention in the principal management of its concerns, 
over Avhich he presided until the time of his death." 

These tablets and tombstones furnish a history of this school 
that can be had nowhere else, and their transcription here will, it 
is hoped, enshrine the memories of these charitable men for their 
munificence to the poor of the town in the hearts of the present 
generation and indelibly impress upon their minds the solemn, 
but eft unheeded, words of the Master, "ye have the poor with you 
always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good." Mr. George 
W. Eothrock conducted this male school as teacher for many years, 
but upon his death, before the Civil war, it was closed and has 
never been resumed. 

A reference to other schools of Fredericksburg, some contem- 
porary with the Male Charity School and the Federal Hill Female 
College, and others of a later date, will no doubt be of interest to 
the numerous descendants of those who were educated in them, and 
will recall to many of our older citizens pleasant memories of their 
youthful days, as well as the labor over "tare and tret, which made 
them mad and sweat." 

Among these was the excellent female school taught by Eev. 
Samuel Wilson, in which many of the most accomplished ladies in 
Fredericksburg received their early education. Mr. Wilson was 
succeeded by Miss Mary Ralls, who was assisted by Mr. Herard, 



196 History of Frederichslurg, Virginia 

whom she afterwards married.* Mr. Herard was a Frenchman, 
and although he could not speak English, taught writing and 
French in the school. Here commenced the education of a large 
number of girls and boys, who were afterwards well known in the 
social circle and business pursuits of Fredericksburg and of many 
other parts of the country, and some of them are to-day honored 
citizens of the town. 

The school kept by Mr. John Goolrick, in the small, brick build- 
ing on the lower end of Main street, now occupied by Mr. W. 
'Snowden Hitt, was famous in its day, and in that school were 
•educated some of our substantial business men and accomplished 
women. He was assisted in his school by his son, George, who was 
an accomplished teacher and cultured gentleman. George Gool- 
rick succeeded his father in the conduct of the school and continued 
it for many years. 

Mr. Thomas H. Hanson, who came to Fredericksburg from 
Georgetown, D. C., was principal of the Fredericksburg Male Acad- 
emy. He was a fine classical scholar and his school enjoyed 
a wide-spread reputation as a classical school. He taught in the 
north wing of the City Hall, and for several years on Prince 
Edward street, above Amelia, in a brick building, where the resi- 
dences of Misses Hay and Misses Wissner now stand. The build- 
ing was torn down several years ago, when residences were built. 
Some few of his pupils are now living. One died a short time 
ago, at a ripe old age, with the honorary LL. D. attached to his 
name. 

Eev. George W. McPhail conducted a school for some years on 
the west side of Main street, just above Commerce. The house was 
a large, frame building, with a store on the ground floor and school- 
room above. It was destroyed at the shelling of the town in 
December, 1862. Mr. McPhail's first school-room was located on 
George street west of the Presbyterian church, but, it being too 
small to accommodate his pupils, he moved to Main street. 



* It is related by the "old folks" that when the ceremony closed the min- 
ister looked at the groom and said "kiss your bride." The groom, not under- 
standing English and imagining it was some figure in the dance, innocently 
took the bride by the hands and merrily waltzed up and down the aisle to the 
amusement of the audience, but to the great mortification of the bride. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 197 

Messrs. Powell and Morrison, for many years, conducted Si 
school for girls in Citizens' Hall, which stood on Princess Anni 
street where the Catholic parsonage now stands. It was known-', 
as the Fredericksburg Institute, and was one of the best schools qT 
that da}^ It was moved to Eichmond and is now conducted by 
members of Mr. Powell's family. 

Professor Eichard Sterling conducted a school for boys in the old 
Colonnade building on Princess Ann street, opposite the court- 
house, long before the war. He was succeeded by Mr. J. J. Halsey. 
The building was partially destroyed by fire during the Civil war, 
and finally, in 1880, was removed to give place to the Presbyterian 
Memorial chapel. 

For a number of years a school for girls was conducted by 
Mrs. John P. Little, first at her residence, on Princess Ann street^ 
and then for some time at Federal Hill and at the Union House, 
which is now used for the public schools. She was assisted in her 
school by an accomplished French teacher by the name of Guillet. 

More than half a century ago Misses Ann and Mary Drinnan 
conducted a flourishing school for girls on Charles street, above 
Lewis, where the Misses Goodwin now live, and Mrs. Mary Hack- 
ley conducted a large boarding school over the store now occupied 
by Mr. Thomas N. Brent. For several years before the war Eev. 
Wm. F. Broaddus, D. D., taught a school for young ladies in the 
basement of the Baptist church. • These schools were all of a high 
order and fully sustained the reputation of Fredericksburg as a 
town possessing the most enlarged educational advantages. Be- 
sides the schools above referred to, schools for boys were taught by 
Eichard Stern, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Jamison, Stephen A. Boardman, 
James G. Eead, Edward Henry, Mr. Tchudi, Buckner & Henry, 
Buckner & Temple, Chas. E. Tackett, Thomas Moncure, H. W. 
Ehinehart, Mrs. Judith Anstice, Mrs. A. L. Magrath, Maria Wood- 
ruff, Miss Willie Schooler and others. 

After the war Judge Eichard H. Coleman taught a high school 
for boys at Keimiore, and Colonel W. Winston Fontaine taught a 
high school for girls on the south corner of Main and Frederick 
streets, and Professor Volley M. Johnson conducted a similar 



198 History of FredericTcsburg, Virginia 

school at the Union House. When Judge Coleman moved his 
school to Guiney's in Caroline county, Messrs. Cuthbert Buckner 
and Charles W. Temple opened a school of the same grade. They 
were succeeded by Messrs. Cuthbert Buckner and Wm. Caruthers, 
and they by Messrs. Charles E. Tackett, James W. Ford and Wm. 
B. Marye, who added a military feature to the school, which made 
it quite popular. These schools were located on Prince Edward 
street in a one-story brick house, known as the Academy, where 
the Misses Hay have recently erected a modern residence. 

After Colonel Fontaine moved South a high school for young 
ladies was opened by Mr. Wm. Caruthers in the Presbyterian Asy- 
lum, known now as Smithsonia, assisted by his sisters, Mrs. Davis 
and Miss Caruthers. He Avas succeeded by Mrs. Wm. A. Campbell 
and daughter, two excellent teachers, but the school did not appear 
to prosper and was finally closed. In addition to these schools of 
high grade there were many excellent primary schools for girls and 
boys, which succeeded well until the public free schools were opened, 
which became popular because of their graded system and the 
thoroughness of their instruction. Since then most of the private 
schools have been abandoned, yet some few are yet conducted and 
are doing well. 

THE assembly's PIOME AND SCHOOL. 

The Assembly's Home and School was founded by Eev. A. P. 
Saunders, D. D., then pastor of the Presbyterian church in Fred- 
ericksburg, in 1893. It was incorporated by an act of the Vir- 
ginia Legislature December 16, 1893. It consisted originally of 
a home designed for the maintenance and education of the orphans 
of deceased Presbyterian ministers and missionaries, and also of 
,a college. The latter was intended as a place for the education of 
these orphans and also for the youth of other denominations. 

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, each year, 
-commended the institution to the confidence of the churches within 
its bounds, and by their contributions the Home was maintained. 
The college for some time was supported partly by contributions 
from the churches, but more largely by the pay students attending 
the school from home and abroad. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 199 

In the year 1897 the General Assembly of the church separated 
the college from the Home and ordered the sale of the college and 
all the property belonging to it. The city of Fredericksburg recog- 
nizing the value of such an institution in its midst, had subscribed 
ten thousand dollars of bonds, the interest on which was to pay for 
ten annual scholarships in the college, the scholars being selected 
from the highest grade of the public schools of the town. 

This arrangement continued until 1898, when the college and 
property were sold and the ten thousand dollars of bonds were re- 
turned to the city authorities and cancelled. The property was 
purchased by Eev. F. P. Eamsay, who conducted the college for 
two years, the city continuing its patronage of ten scholarships, 
paying the tuition in money. 

In the year 1900 Mr. Ramsay sold the college and property to 
Rev. John W. Rosebro, who had just become pastor of the Pres- 
byterian church in Fredericksburg. He is a gentleman of rare 
ability, and, with his corps of able assistants, is making the college 
worthy of the confidence and support of the public. A bright and 
prosperous future is predicted for the institution under the man- 
agement of this scholarly gentleman. 

The Assembly Home is still in operation, supported by the de- 
nomination, and holds a strong place in the affections of the Pres- 
byterian church. It is now under the management of Professor 
Samuel W. Somerville. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The public schools were established in Fredericksburg, under 
what is known as the Underwood Constitution, in 1870. For 
several years they were not well patronized, principally from the 
fact that the system was not popular with the people. When the 
system was first put in operation in town the schools were kept at 
private houses, because the. city had no public school houses and 
was then unable to build them, and as the appropriations for school 
purposes were small the sessions were held only for five or six 
months in the year. The teachers, in a majority of cases, were 
selected more because of their need of the salary than because of 
their abilitv and fitness to teach. 



200 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

In the year 1876 the schools Vi-ere graded, and the funds received 
from the city and State were largely supplemented from the Pea- 
body fund, which enabled the school board to adopt a ten months' 
session. By this arrangement the efficiency of the schools was 
greatly promoted ; they grew in public favor, the citizens patronized 
them, and soon they became so large and popular the town was 
compelled to provide larger buildings for the accommodation of the 
pupils. To accommodate this large increase of attendance a com- 
modious two-story brick building was erected on the north corner 
of Princess Ann and Wolfe streets for the colored schools, suffi- 
ciently large to accommodate four schools, and the Union House, 
a three-story brick building on the north corner of Main and Lewis 
streets, was purchased for the white schools and converted into a 
building capable of accommodating six schools. 

In addition to the schools held at the Union House there are two 
schools for the first primary grades, one held in the forenoon and 
the other in the afternoon, under one teacher, and were kept in the 
south wing of the courthouse until two years ago, when they were 
moved to the Union House and other grades removed to the court- 
house. The grammar grade of the colored schools is taught at 
Samaritan Hall, on Douglas street. These schools have an efficient 
corps of teachers and the instruction is as thorough as is found 
in any of the schools of the State. 

There are ten grades in the white schools — seven in the primary 
department and three in the grammar department. There are 
six grades in the colored schools — five in the primary department 
and one in the grammar department. The town is divided into 
two school districts, the Upper and the^ Lower, George street being 
the dividing line. There are three trustees from each school dis- 
trict, the six members constituting the school board of the town. 

There have been four superintendents of schools since the inau- 
guration of the free school system in 1870, who have served in the 
following order : Mr. John Howison, General Daniel Euggles, Mr. 
Edgar M. Crutchfield and Mr. Benjamin P. Willis. All of these 
gentlemen have jDassed away except Mr. Willis, who is now serving 
as superintendent. The school board has had but four presidents 



History of FredericTcsburg, Virginia 201 

since its organization, thirty-eight years ago, who served in the fol- 
lowing order: John James Young, Captain Joseph W. Sener, 
Wm. H. Cunningham and Andrew B. Bowering. Only one is now 
living — A. B. Bowering, who is serving at present. 



OHAPTEE XIV 

The Churches of Frederichsburg. 

If the morals and correct lives of the people of a town are to be 
judged by the number of churches within its borders, giving due 
consideration to the number of inhabitants, the people of Freder- 
icksburg would be rated with the best. One of the first things that 
received the attention of the founders of the town, under the char- 
ter granted by the House of Burgesses in 1727, was the building 
of a house of worship and its dedication to the service of the Al- 
might_v, and since that time Fredericksburg has been blessed with 
regular divine services. And as the inhabitants of the town in- 
creased in numbers, and the little building became too small to 
accommodate all who would wish to attend upon the House of the 
Lord, the authorities were not too much engrossed with money- 
making and money-getting to enlarge the church and provide for 
the spiritual comfort and necessities of the increasing population. 
So the church building was enlarged time and again as the growth 
of the town demanded it. 

Up to the first of the nineteenth century the only denomination 
holding regular services in town was the Episcopalians, as that was 
the only denomination that had a house of worship, but in the 
early part of that century other denominations organized churches 
in town, built houses of worship and have continued to occupy 
them to the present. Since then Fredericksburg has not been with- 
out a sufficient number of churches for the accommodation of her 
entire church-going population. There are at present eleven 
church buildings in town — seven for the whites and four for the 
colored people. The seating capacity of the white church buildings 
is about three thousand and that of the colored churches about 
one thousand five hundred, making the total seating capacity of 
the churches of Fredericksburg about four thousand five hundred, 
being ample accommodation for the church-going population, both 
white and colored. 

[ 202 ] 




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History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 203 

ST. George's episcopal church. 

The history of the Episcopal church in Fredericksburg is of 
peculiar interest to the people of the town because of its antiquity 
and because of its intimate connection with the history and affairs 
of the town. In the year 1733, seven years after the town was 
laid out and named, the first church building was erected in Fred- 
ericksburg.* It was in St. George's parish, which embraced the 
whole of Spotsylvania county, which then contained all the terri- 
tory west, as far as it was or might be settled by the whites. A 
church building had previously been erected in the county, on the 
Po river, for the accommodation of the people of the county. This 
church is said to have been located on the Catharpin road, on the 
tojD of the hill west of Mine run, on the south side of the road, 
where the Yellow church was afterwards built by the Baptists and 
which was destroyed some years ago. This stream is not tlie Po, 
but one of its tributaries and may then have been called the Po. 

The first pastor the Fredericksburg church had after the com- 
pletion of its building was Bev. Patrick Henry, uncle of the great 
orator and statesman of that name. He served the church for two 
years, and in 1735 was succeeded by Eev. James Marye,f of Gooch- 
land county, who died as rector of the church in 1769, having 
served it faithfully for thirty-four years. Eev. James Marye was 
succeeded in the rectorship by his son, Eev. James Marye, Jr., who 
was rector for eleven years. From 1780, when the second James 
Marye closed his labors, to 1813 the church had many rectors, but 
their stay was of short duration. 

In the year 1787 the Common Council, through a committee of 
its members, repaired and enlarged the church building by adding 
another wing, (one having been previously constructed, mentioned 
elsewhere,) which made the building a cross in shape. The cost 
for this work amounted to four hundred and six pounds, a part 
of which was raised by the committee by an appeal to the private 
citizens for donations, because of the depleted condition of the city 
treasury. In the same year the Council prepared and adopted a 

* Some authorities give 1735 as ttie date of ttie erection of tliis ehurcli. 
•j- Great grandfather of Governor John L. Marye 



204 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

petition to the Legislature of Virginia, praying for a division of 
St. George's parish and for vesting "the property of the old church 
and the new burying ground in Fredericksburg in the corporation 
of said town." 

Mr. James Monroe,* who was a member of the Council and a 
vestryman of St. George's church, (who was afterwards a member 
of the Legislature, a Representative in Congress, a United States 
Senator, twice Governor of Virginia, twice Minister to France, 
twice Minister to England, Minister to Spain, Secretary of State, 
Secretary of War, two terms President of the United States, Pre- 
siding Justice of Loudoun county and Visitor of the University of 
Virginia,) was appointed chairman of the committee to present the 
petition and secure the desired action of the Legislature. If any 
report was ever made by Mr. Monroe, neither it nor any reference 
to it can be found. It is quite likely that the law separating 
church and State, which was passed that year, made it unnecessary. 

As has been stated, that after the death of the younger Marye, for 
more than thirty years the pastorates of the church were short and 
unsatisfactory. The cause for this state of things has not been 
recorded and conjecture is needless. In 1813 Edward C. McGuire, 
of Winchester, Virginia, came to the church as lay reader, being 
highly recommended by Rev. Wm. Meade (who afterwards became 
bishop of the diocese) as a young man of character and piety. Mr. 
McGuire Avas soon ordained and became rector of the church, serv- 
ing it with great acceptance and success to the day of his death, 
in 1858, a period of forty-five years. f 

Mr. McGuire was greatly beloved by all classes of persons, his 
ministerial labors were signally blessed, and the number of com- 
municants was largely increased. From the death of Mr. McGuire 



* It has been claimed, and it is probably true, that James Monroe held more 
important public positions in his life than any other one man, either before or 
since his day. 

■j- A memorial tablet erected in St. George's church has this inscription : 
"Rev. Edward McGuire, D. D.. born in Winchester, Va., July 26, 1783, died 
Oct. 8, 1858. During forty-flve years the faithful, beloved and highly blessed 
pastor of St. George's church, Fredericksburg. Amiable in character, prudent in 
action, wise in counsel, evangelical in doctrine, experimental in preacliing, he 
was a pastor of great influence and success, highly esteemed for his sound 
judgment and consistent conduct during a long and useful life." 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 205 

to the present the church has had several rectors, who did good work 
and who greatly endeared themselves to the congregation and 
people of the town. These pastors served in the following order: 
Rev. A. M. Randolph, D. D., now bishop of the Southern Diocese 
of Virginia; Rev. Magruder Maury, Rev. Edward C. Murdaugh, 
Rev. Robert J. MeBryde, Rev. J. K. Mason, Rev. Wm. M. Clarke, 
Rev. AVm. D. Smith and Rev. Dr. Robert J. McBryde, a second 
time, who is the present rector. During a portion of the time that 
Dr. Murdaugh was rector he had as his assistant Rev. Arthur S. 
Johns, a son of the late Bishop Johns. St. George's church has a 
flourishing Sunday school, of which Dr. M. C. Hall was superin- 
tendent for thirty-eight years, his duties closing at his death. This 
long service as an officer of St. George's church has been exceeded 
only by one rector. Rev. Edward C. McGuire, and one vestryman 
and senior warden, Reuben T. Thom, Esq.* 

There have been three buildings erected on the ground where the 
present house of worship stands. The first one was built in 1732, 
and was an oblong, frame building. As the inhabitants of the town 
increased an addition was built on one side, and in 1787 another 
addition was constructed, rendered necessary by a further increase 
of the population and larger congregations. By the year 1814 the 
old building seems to have become so old and dilapidated that a 
new house was thought necessary, and therefore the old one, which 
had stood for over three-quarters of a century, was torn down and 
a new one was erected in its stead. An aged citizen, some forty 
3'ears ago, describing this first building, said : "It was cruciform 
in shape, with steeple and bell, capable of holding large congrega- 
tions. In each projection of the cross there was a small gallery; 
one contained the organ, the others two pews each. It was a frame 
building, painted yellow. The pulpit was at one of the angles of 
the cross, highly elevated, with reading desk, and clerk's desk in 
front below. A clerk, in his desk, generally responded to the min- 
ister in the service, while the people were silent." f 

• A memorial slab erected in St. George's church gives this remarkable 
record : "Reuben T. Thom, born 1782, died 1868. He was for 52 years a 
vestryman, and for 45 years senior warden of St. George's church. A father in 

-j Prom a communication in an old copy of the Frederickshurg News, fur- 
Israel he was respected and beloved by three generations." 
nished by Dr. Horace B. Hall. 



206 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

The second house was made of brick, but, like the former one, 
was not large enough to hold the growing congregation. The work 
was commenced in 1814, the corner stone having been laid that 
year, with imposing ceremonies. It was completed in the following 
_year, and was reported to the Council in 1816 by Bishop Moore, 
who stated to that body that he had consecrated a handsome, brick 
edifice in Fredericksburg and confinned sixty persons. 

In the short space of thirty-three years it was found that this 
new, brick house was too small, and so, in 1849, it was removed 
and the present brick building was erected, which is one of the 
handsomest church edifices in the State, outside of the large cities. 
AVhile this house was in the course of erection the church wor- 
shipped in the old Methodist church, just back of the park, which 
was destroyed by fire about 1852. The new church was consecrated 
and occupied in the Fall of 1849. A few years after its com- 
pletion it was very much damaged by fire, but it was at once re- 
paired and restored to its former beauty. 

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Trinity Episcopal church, composed of members who withdrew 
from St. George's church, and organized with Eev. Dr. E. C. Mur- 
daugh as rector, worshipped for some time in the courthouse, and 
afterwards in the Hanover-street Methodist church, which had not 
been used for religious services since the Civil war.* With com- 
mendable zeal this new congregation went to work, puchased a lot 
on the south corner of Prince Edward and Hanover streets and 
erected a handsome house of worship, which in due time was conse- 
crated to the service of the Lord. The change for the purposes 
for which this ground was used was indeed radical; it was from 
theatrical to church purposes. It is said that after the Eevolu- 
tionary war this lot had on it a large frame house, which was at 



* In the occupancy of this building we have this coincidence : V^'hen the 
members of St. George's church were building their present house, in 1849, tliey 
occupied the Methodist church, baclj of the pari?, which had been vacated for 
the new house on Hanover street. More than thirty years afterwards, when 
Trinity Episcopal church was organized, they occupied the Methodist church on 
Hanover street, the Methodists having moved to their new house on George 
street. 



History of Fredericlishurg, Virginia 307 

first intended for an extensive stable, but was converted into a hall 
for theatrical purposes. Theatrical companies visiting toAvn would 
sometimes remain for a week exhibiting every night to large au- 
diences of the elite of the town. 

The first rector of Trinity church was Dr. Edward C. Murdaugh, 
who was succeeded by Eev. J. Green Shackelford, Eev. John S. 
Gibson, Eev. J. S. Gray, Eev. Edwin Green, Eev. W. L. Eeaney 
and Dr. H. H. Barber, who is now serving the church. Some few 
years ago the congregation erected a beautiful and commodious 
rectory near the church building, which adds much to the comfort 
and convenience of the pastor. 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Presbyterian churcli in Fredericksburg was constituted in 
the early part of the nineteenth century. In the year 1806 Eev. 
Samuel B. AVilson,* a j^oung minister of that denomination, came 
to town. At that time there were but two Presbyterians in the 
place. As St. George's church, which had the only house of worship 
in town, was without a pastor, Mr. Wilson was invited to preach in 
that church. This invitation was gladly accepted, and for some time 
he preached in St. George's church, large congregations attending 
the services. In a few years Mr. Wilson succeeded in getting to- 
gether a sufficient number of Presbyterians to organize a church, 
and a house of worship was erected in 1810 on the lot where the 
as3dum (at present known as Smithsonia) now stands on Amelia 
street. 

This house Avas occupied until the present brick building on 
George street was erected, which was in 1833, and was dedicated 
on the 26th of July of that year. The old church on Amelia 
street stood back several yards from the sidewalk and was ap- 
proached through a gate, near which the bell was suspended on a 
cross-beam erected on two uprights. In the gallery of the church, 
where the choir was seated, a large brass ball was arranged on the 



* In the Presbyterian church a marble tablet is erected with this inscription : 
"Samuel B. Wilson, first pastor ; born March 17, 1783 ; died Aug. 1. 1869. 
They that be wise shall shine as the firmament, and they that turn many to 
righteousness as the stars forever and ever." 



208 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

principle of a metronome, which marked the time for the singers. 
Some years after the house on George street was built a comfortable 
manse was erected on the same street, near the church, for the 
pastor. 

In 1880 the "Memorial Chapel" was erected just in rear of the 
present church building, fronting on Princess Ann street and 
neatly fitted out by Mr. Seth B, French, a Fredericksburg man, 
then residing in New York city, as a memorial to his daughter 
Margaretta, who died just as she was entering into womanhood ; 
upon the death of his wife, a few years afterwards, who was the 
daughter of Judge John M. Herndon, he placed a very beautiful and 
costly window in the east end of the building as a memorial of her. 
This house is built of granite, quarried on the old Landram farm, 
two miles west of Fredericksburg, and is of a superior quality. 
The Presbyterian house of worship, like other houses of worship in 
town, was dismantled during the Wilderness campaign in 1864 
and used by the Federal authorities as a hospital. After the war 
the Presbyterians had no bell and their church had been sacked by 
Federal soldiers. 

In connection with this condition of things an amusing incident 
occurred, which was related to us by the perpetrator of the joke, 
and which is too good to be lost. Just after the war, when the 
different church buildings had been repaired and fitted up for oc- 
cupation by the respective congregations, Mr. James McGuire, a 
prominent member of the Presbyterian church, met Mr. Eeuben 
T. Thom, senior warden of St. George's church, on the corner of 
the street near the Presbyterian church, St. George's being on the 
diagonal corner. They engaged in conversation, during which Mr. 
McGuire appeared to be very much troubled because all the other 
churches had bells to call their congregations together while the 
Presbyterians had none. Mr. Thom, kind hearted as he was, sym- 
pathized with them very much and undertook to console Mr. 
McGuire. Seeing Mr. Thom was very much concerned, and cast- 
ing his eyes up towards St. George's bell, just across the street, 
his countenance brightening up as if a new idea had struck him, 
queried : "Well, Mr. Thom, won't you let the Presb5^terians come 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 209 

to church by St. George's bell?" Mr. Thom, being anxious to 
accommodate the Presbyterians^, but feeling that he was not au- 
thorized to decide the matter, replied: "Eh, eh, I have no objec- 
tion myself, Jimmie, but, but I will lay the matter before the ves- 
try, and will inform you of its action !" 

Mr. Wilson served the church as pastor until 1841, when he re- 
signed to accept a professorship in the Union Theological Semi- 
nary, then at Hampden-Sidney, in Prince Edward county, Vir- 
ginia. He was succeeded by Eev. George W. McPhail, D. D., and 
Bev. A. A. Hodge, D. D. Eev. B. T. Lacy supplied the pulpit for 
some time prior to the Civil war, but was never the regular pastor 
of the church. The church has had the following pastors since the 
war : Eev. Thomas W. Gilmer,* Eev. James P. Smith, D. D,, Eev. 
A. P. Saunders, D. D., Eev. Benjamin W. Mebane, D. D., Eev. 
John W. Eosebro, D. D., and Eev. J. H. Henderlite, who is now 
serving the church. Governor John L. Marye was a ruling elder 
of this church for more than forty-seven years, giving faithful 
and efficient service. 

THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The Baptists came into notice as early as the year 1768, when 
John Waller, Lewis Craig and James Chiles, three zealous Baptist 
ministers, were seized by the sheriff of Spotsylvania county, car- 
ried before three magistrates in the yard of the church building, 
on the charge of "preaching the gospel contrary to law." They 
were ordered to jail in Fredericksburg, and, while in jail, preached 
through the iron gratings of the windows and door to large 
crowds, who assembled to see and hear them.f It is said as they 
marched through the streets of the town to jail, in the custody of 
the officers of the law, followed by a large, noisy crowd jeering at 
them, they sang that old hymn by Watts, to the tune of Wyndham : 

"Broad is the road that leads to death. 
And thousands walk together there; 
But wisdom shows a narrow way, 
With here and there a traveller." 



* On a memorial tablet erected in the church is this inscription : "Thomas 
Walker Gilmer, pastor, born July 25, 1834, died April 5, 1869. I know that 
my Redeemer liveth." 

f Historical sketch of Fredericksburg, 1883, by Robert B. Berrey. 
14 



210 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

And as the sweet, solemn notes fell upon the ears of the curious 
crowd the Jeering ceased, and before the hymn was concluded 
many persons were melted to tears. 

The Baptist church of Fredericksburg was organized by Eev. 
Andrew Broaddus, Sr., the great orator of King and Queen county 
and later of Caroline countji-, in the year 1804, who for several 
years was its pastor. In 1810 Eev. Eobert Baylor Semple, in pre- 
paring his "History of Virginia Baptists," says of the Fredericks- 
burg church : "They have no resident pastor, but are supplied by 
Mr. A. Broaddus, who attends them monthly. If there is any 
objection to Mr. Broaddus's ministry in this city it is that he is too 
popular with the irreligious. It may be said of him as was said of 
Ezekiel : 'Lo ! thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that 
hath a pleasant voice, and can ]Aaj well on an instrument ; for they 
hear thy words, but they do them not.' This remark by no means 
applies to the church, for, although they hear with much pleasure, 
they practise with more. It is a young and rising church." 

The first house of worship erected in town by the Baptists was 
a small, frame structure built on the ground now occupied by the 
Eichmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Eailroad Company as a 
depot, but before many years had passed the congregation had so 
increased in size the small building was found to be inadequate and 
a large, brick building was erected on Water street, where Shiloh, 
church, old site, now stands, and for thirty years or more the 
church worshipped in that building. 

Under the preaching of able and faithful pastors the membership 
rapidly increased and the congregations became larger, and by the 
middle of the century the house on Water street was found to be 
too small to accommodate the increasing attendance. In the year 
1854 the present large and commodious brick building was erected 
on Princess Ann street, mainly through the efforts of Eev. Wm. F. 
Broaddus,* the pastor, J. B. Benwick, Jr., architect, notwithstand- 



• A memorial slab in the church is thus inscribed : "In memory of Rev. 
Wm. F. Broaddus, D. D., born April 30, 1801, died Sept. 8, 1876. The be- 
loved and faithful pastor of this church 1853 to 1862, through whose labors 
and liberality this house was built. 'He was a good man and full of the Holy 
Ghost and faith, and much people was added to the Lord.' " 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 311 

ing on a tablet in the front of the church that work is credited 
to another. 

The new housC;, with a large addition to it about twelve years 
ago^ has proved ample for the church and congregation to the pres- 
ent. Eev. Andrew Broaddus, the first pastor^ was succeeded 
by the following ministers : Eev. Eobert B. Semple, Eev. Carter 
Braxton, Eev. Mr. James, Eev. John Teasdale, Eev. John 
M. Waddey, Eev. George P. Adams, Eev. S. C. Smith, Eev. 
Wm. F. Broaddus, D. D., Eev. Wm. H. Williams, Eev. Thomas 
S. Dunaway, D. D., Eev. Jacob S. Dill, D. D., and Eev. E. Aubrey 
Williams, who is now serving the church. Dr. Dunaway's pastorate 
covered a period of thirty-two years, during which he greatly en- 
deared himself to the church and people of the town, and was em- 
inently successful in winning souls and building up the church. 
The Baptist church has a large and flourishing Sunday school con- 
nected with it that has had but four superintendents for sixty-three 
years. George W. Garnett* was superintendent for thirty and 
Prof. A. B. Bowering served nearly twenty-three years, S. J. Quinn 
ten, and B. P. Willis, having just been elected, has entered upon 
the work. 

THE METHODIST CHURCH. 

The Methodists, who, for a number of years, were designated as 
a society, held services in Fredericksburg as early as 1786. For a 
number of years they held meetings from house to house, and were 
very active workers. It is not known when the first church or 
society was formed^ or by whom it was organized, but it is known 
that persons united with that denomination before the dawn of the 
nineteenth century, and that Father Kobler commenced his minis- 
try here as a local preacher in the year 1789, and continued his 
labors as such for over half a century. Therefore it may be con- 
cluded that the first organization of that denomination in Fred- 
ericksburg held its meetings in private houses for more than thirty 
years. 



* In the basement of the church is a memorial tablet inscribed as follows : 
"In memory of Deacon George W. Garnett, the faithful, efUcient and beloved 
Superintendent of the Fredericksburg Baptist Sunday School for thirty con- 
secutive years, who died July 9, 1876, aged 54 years. 'He was a faithful man,, 
and feared God above many.' Erected by the school." 



212 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

The first house of worship built by the Methodists in town, that 
we have any record or tradition of, was erected in 1822, on the lot 
in rear of Hurkamp park, fronting on George street, and occupied 
by Colonel E. D. Cole as a stable and lumber yard. It was then 
outside of the city limits and was known as Liberty Town. It was 
a small frame building and was occupied until 1841, when the old 
church on Hanover street was finished. The services were then 
held in the new house and the old frame church building was 
turned over to the colored Methodists, who occupied it for some 
time. It was destroyed by fire about 1852. 

Some years after occupying the church building on Hanover 
street, the question of slavery, which had been so vigorously dis- 
cussed by the denomination North and South, was the theme of 
discussion in the church at Fredericksburg. The feeling became 
strong between the parties and increased in intensity until it re- 
sulted in a split in the church. One division was known as the 
Northern Methodist, as its members opposed slavery, while the 
other division was known as the Southern Methodist, its members 
favoring slavery. When the difference became so marked and the 
feeling so bitter, that the parties could not longer Avorship together, 
the Southern Methodists withdrew, and held services in the second 
story of the town hall for some time. The Northern wing re- 
mained in the Hanover street house until the beginning of the 
Civil war. 

In the year 1852 the southern division of the church erected a 
handsome brick building on the south corner of George and Charles 
streets, where Mr. P. V. D. Conway's residence now stands, in 
which they Avorshipped until the war came on, when the sessions of 
the church Avere almost suspended. Since the Civil Avar the two 
'Churches united and occupied the George-street church until about 
the year 1879, AAdien the old building on Hanover street was torn 
doAvn and a house of modern architecture erected in its place. 
Since that time the new church has been occupied and the George- 
street building Avas sold. About fifteen years ago an addition was 
built in rear of the church for the accommodation of the Sunday 
school. The church also has a parsonage on the same street, which 
was donated to it by Eev. John Kobler. 




"Kenmore, " Mansion of Col. Fieiding Lewis, who married Betty 
Washington; now residence of Councilman Claranee R. Howard. 



( See i;a ve 1 •>•') i 




"Union House," where Gen. Lafayette was entertained in 1824 by 

his friend, Mr. Ross. 

(See page 144) 



History of Fredericl'shurg, Virginia 213 

In 1843 Rev. John Kobler, widely known as Father Kobler, a 
citizen of the town, a venerable local preacher of the Methodist 
church, distinguished for his piety and ability and greatly beloved 
by all who knew him, died and was buried beneath the pulpit of 
the Hanover-street church. Prior to his death he wrote his "fare- 
well to the world," which he requested should be read as a part of 
his funeral service, Avhich was done. The farewell is almost as 
long as a sermon and is "the very perfume of piety and Christian 
assurance." 1st. He bids farewell to the ministry of the gospel 
and all the ordinances of the church of God. 2nd. He bids fare- 
well to the church in her militant state. 3rd. He bids farewell to 
the communion of saints. 4th. He bids farewell to prayer. 5th. 
He bids a final and hearty adieu to temptation and to every species 
of the Christian w^arfare. fith and lastly. He bids farewell to his 
Bible. This history of him is given on the first page of the pam- 
phlet: "John Kobler was born 29th of August, 1768; joined the 
Methodist Episcopal church 6th of December, 1786; was converted 
24th of December, 1787; commenced his itinerating ministry 3rd 
of October, 1789; and died with glory on his lips, July 26th, 
1843." 

Some ten or twelve years after the death of Father Kobler his 
devoted and saintly wife followed him to the glory land and she 
was interred by the side of her husband. When the old building- 
was torn down and the new one erected the sacred dust of these two 
sleeping saints w^as left undisturbed, and so under the pulpit of the 
new church their mortal remains still repose. The present pastor 
of the church is Eev. W. L. Dolly, a faithful and zealous servant of 
the Lord. 

THE CIIRISTIA^Sr CHUECH. 

About the year 1832 the religious movement, in which Alexander 
Campbell was the leader, began in Fredericksburg. A number of 
citizens, adopting the views held by Mr. Campbell, were organized 
into a Christian or Disciples church. With commendable energy 
and zeal they went to work, purchased a lot and erected quite a 
comfortable church building on Main street, between Amelia and 
Lewis streets. The church prospered until the breaking out of 



214 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

the Civil war, when, like those of the other churches, its members 
were scattered and church services were suspended. 

Several efforts have been made since the war to reorganize the 
church, but they were unsuccessful until 1897, when Eev. Mr. 
Eutledge preached here for some days, got the members together 
and the church was organized. The old building has been re- 
modelled and modernized and is now occupied by the congregation. 
After the church was reorganized Eev. Cephas Shelburne was called 
as pastor, and by his energetic labors the membership was very 
much increased. Mr. Shelburne was succeeded by Eev. F. S. 
Forrer and he by Eev. I. L. Chestnutt. The church now has no 
pastor. 

ST. Mary's catholic church. 

The Eoman Catholics had no church organization in town until 
the year 1859. In 1856 Bishop McGill visited Fredericksburg and 
preached a sermon of great ability and spiritual power, and under 
his influence a nucleus was formed, out of which the church was 
organized three years afterwards. The newly organized church 
went earnestly to work at once to build a house of worship, and 
from amounts subscribed by the members and friends in town, and 
the assistance they received from abroad, a neat and comfortable 
brick building was erected on Princess Ann street, between Char- 
lotte and Hanover. A frame parsonage was purchased some years 
afterwards just below the church building, which was destroyed by 
fire about the year 1875, after which the present brick parsonage 
was erected. 

The church at different periods has been visited by Bishop Gib- 
bons, now Cardinal, and Bishop Keene, by whom it was greatly 
strengthened. It has had for pastors since its organization Eev. 
Fathers Hagan, Donnelson, O'Farrell, Sears, Brady, Becker, Tier- 
nan, Donahoe, Wilson, Keunefick, Demunych and Coleman. Eev. 
Father Perrig is pastor at this time. 

THE COLORED BAPTIST CHURCHES. 

In 1854, when the white Baptists occupied their new house of 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 315 

worship on Princess Ann street, they turned over to the colored 
Baptists their old house on Water street. Prior to that the white 
and colored members worshipped together in the same building. 
Separated to themselves, but under the care of the white Baptist 
church, the colored people had Eev. George Eowe to preach for 
them, which he continued to do, with success, until the Civil war 
came on. 

After the war closed the colored people, being free to act for 
themselves, formed separate churches and selected pastors of their 
own color. The colored Baptists of the town formed a church, 
under the name of Shiloh, and called Eev. George L. Dixon to the 
pastorate. His pastoral care of the church continued for several 
years, when he was succeeded by Eev. L. G. Walden and he by Eev. 
Willis M. Eobinson. 

In 1887 the church building collapsed and a division of senti- 
ment arose among the members as to where they should rebuild, 
which resulted in a division of the church and congregation and 
the erection of another church building. A majority of the mem- 
bers of the church wanted to rebuild on the old site, but a large 
minority preferred to sell the old site and build on Princess Ann 
street, near the railroad depot. The contention was sharp, the feel- 
ing was intense, satisfactory terms of separation could not be agreed 
upon, and finally the controversy was carried into the circuit court. 

Judge Wm. S. Barton, who was judge of the circuit court, 
advised a compromise, which was accepted by the parties, and a 
division of the church and property was the result. But then 
another perplexing question arose that promised to give trouble. 
Both parties strenuously contended for the old name, Shiloh, and 
no other name it appeared would satisfy either division. The 
wishes of both parties, however, were happily met when some one 
suggested that the Water-street party should be known as Shiloh 
Old Site and the Princess Ann party as Shiloh Xew Site. This 
proposition was agreed to, the separation took place peaceably and 
both parties proceeded to build substantial and commodious brick 
houses, which are a credit to the colored people of the town. 

Eev. Willis Eobinson, who was pastor of the old church Shiloh, 



216 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

went with Shiloh New Site and became its pastor. Shiloh Old 
Site extended a call to Kev. James E. Brown to become its pastor, 
which he accepted, and served the church for several years. For 
some time after the old church building became unsafe for occu- 
pancy the colored people worshipped in the courthouse. 

In the year 1879 several members withdrew from old Shiloh 
church and organized under the name of the Second Baptist church. 
They erected a small, but neat, frame church building on Win- 
chester street, near Amelia, and asked for the ordination of Albert 
Eay, whom they had selected as pastor. A few months later he was 
duly ordained, entered upon the pastorate of the church and con- 
tinued as such until disabled by rheumatism in 1902. 

Eev. Albert Eay's church was sold a few years ago and went into 
possession of a new religious sect. The pastor is Rev. Eoland Bur- 
gess and the sect is known as "The Church of God and the Saints 
of the Lord Jesus Christ." The church has made but little pro- 
gress up to this time. 

In 1903 Shiloh New Site had a split on the question of pastor, 
when a large number of the membership withdrew and erected a 
frame building on Wolfe street, called Eev. Willis M. Eobinson 
as their pastor, wbich organization is known as Eobinson's church. 

At present Shiloh Old Site has for its pastor Eev. John A. Brown 
and Shiloh New Site has Eev. W. L. Eansom. Both churches 
are in a thriving condition, with large Sunday schools, and both 
pastors are educated and fully qualified to lead and instruct their 
race. 



CHAPTEE XV 

Charitable and Benevolent Societies — The Mary Washington Hos- 
pital — Neivspapers and Periodicals — Political Excitement — 
Strong Resolutions Condemning the Administration of John 
Adams — An Address Approving the President's Foreign 
Policy — The Names of Those who Signed the Address, &c. 

Next in importance to the churches in a community, dedicated 
to the service of God, come the charitable and benevolent societies 
and institutions. The former show the state of religion among 
the people, or their relations to their Maker, while the latter is an 
evidence of that fraternal feeling existing from one to another 
which binds all the members in one common cause for humanity. 
And as Fredericksburg is not wanting in her church privileges and 
accommodations, so she is not deficient in the number of her charit- 
able and benevolent societies. The oldest of these societies is the 
Masonic institution. 

Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, Ancient, Free and Accepted 
Masons, was organized on the first day of September, 1752. Under 
what authority it was organized is not positively known, and there- 
fore three authorities are suggested. The first source of authority 
claimed is that of Thomas Oxnard, Grand Master of St. John's 
Lodge, of Massachusetts and "Provincial Grand Master of all of 
North America." A second claim is made that the Masons in the 
community organized themselves into a lodge and continued as a 
self-constituted body until a charter was obtained from Scotland. 
This could hardly have been true. The third claim is, and it is 
believed by the best authorities to be the original source of au- 
thority, that a dispensation was obtained from the Grand Lodge of 
Scotland, and this was the authority by which the lodge was held 
until it was regularly chartered by said Grand Lodge. The 
lodge held its meetings under the authority of this dispensation 
for six years, and made Masons, among others, of George Washing- 
ton, George Weedon, Hugh Mercer, Wm. Woodford, Thomas 

[ 217 ] 



218 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

Posey, Giistaviis B. Wallace, all of whom became general officers 
and did distinguished service in the Eevolutionary war. 

In the year 1758 Daniel Campbell, for several years master 
of the lodge, visited Scotland, and, at the request of the lodge, 
applied for and obtained a charter for the lodge from the Grand 
Lodge of Scotland, which was dated July 21, 1758, and desig- 
nated the organization "The Lodge at Fredericks-Burg," Vir- 
ginia. Possessed with this charter the lodge concluded it had 
the authority to charter other lodges, and exercised that authority 
in chartering one at Falmouth, Va., and one at Gloucester Court- 
house, Va. The latter soon obtained a charter from England and 
the former from the Grand Lodge of A^irginia. In 1775 the Fred- 
ericksburg Lodge united with four other lodges in the State and 
organized the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and received a charter 
from that Grand Body, dated January 30, 1787, under the name 
and title of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4. The lodge is holding 
its authority now under the Virginia Grand Lodge charter, but 
still has in its possession the old Scotch charter, which is well pre- 
served. The original dispensation has disappeared and was prob- 
ably lost more than a century ago. 

In the years 1798 and 1799 the town was the seat of frequent 
and heated political discussions, and the strong, not to say bitter, 
feeling was shared in by the entire population of the town. It 
was during this excitement, and because of the bad feeling it 
engendered, a number of members of No. 4 Lodge withdrew their 
membership and organized Fredericksburg American Lodge, for 
which a dispensation was granted in 1799 by Gov. Eobert Brooke, 
the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. In the following year 
the lodge was chartered and given the number 63. It continued 
to flourish until the breaking out of the Civil war, when it sus- 
pended its meetings and finally became extinct. 

In the bombardment and subsequent sacking of Fredericksburg 
on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of December, 1862, by strag- 
gling Federal soldiers, all of the records of the Masonic Lodge were 
destroyed or carried away except those from 1752 to 1771, which 
were taken to Danville, Va., and preserved by Wm. Ware, Esq., a 
member of the lodge. 



History of Fredericlshurg, Virginia 219 

When No. 4 Lodge first organized its meetings were held in the 
market house, or town hall, then on Main street near Market 
alley, but in 1756 the time for holding the meetings was changed 
to "the day before Spotsylvania county court," which was then 
held at Germanna, on the Eapidan river, and the place of meeting 
was fixed at Charles Julien's, who lived between Fredericksburg 
and Germanna. The lodge continued there foi- about six years, 
when it was moved back to the market house to "stay for all time to 
come," and continued there from 1762 to 1813, when the building 
was torn down preparatory to the erection of the present town hall 
and market house. 

When it was decided to remove the old market house the meetings 
of the lodge were moved to the "Eising Sun Tavern," the old frame 
building still standing on Main street between Fauquier and 
Hawke streets. In the year 1815 the present Masonic hall was 
completed, which stands on the corner of Princess Ann and Han- 
over streets. The Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge has, at various 
periods, embraced in its membership eminent men, including sol- 
diers. Statesmen, professional men and private citizens. Among 
the first two classes mentioned — soldiers and Statesmen — was the 
father of hi& country, George Washington, who, in this historic 
lodge, received the first degree in Masonry on November 4, 1752, 
the second degree on March 3, 1753, and the third degree on August 
4, 1753, and continued his membership in the lodge to the day of 
his death. The Bible used in these interesting ceremonies is now 
in possession of the lodge in a fine state of preservation. It was 
printed by John Field, at Cambridge, in the year 1668. It is 
believed that John Paul Jones, the father of our infant navy, was 
also a member of this lodge. 

By an order of the lodge, and by funds to the amount of five 
thousand dollars, raised by its exertions, a very beautiful and faith- 
ful statue of Washington, in Masonic regalia, was wrought out of 
white marble by the great Virginia artist, Hiram Powers, while he 
was in Pome, Italy. It was safely transported to Fredericksburg, 
but before it could be erected the war came on. For safe keeping 
it was sent to Richmond, and there perished in the terrible conflag- 



220 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

ration of April 2>, 1865. Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, has fur- 
nished six grand masters to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, as fol- 
lows: Judge James Mercer, in 1784; Governor Eobert Brooke, 
in 1785; Major Benjamin Day, from 1797 to 1800; Hon. Oscar 
M. Crutchfield, in 1841 ; Judge Beverly R. Wellford, Jr., in 1877, 
and Capt. S. J. Quinn, in 1907. Fredericksburg American Lodge, 
No. 63, furnished Hon. John S. Caldwell, in 1856. 

In 1873 Fredericksburg Eoyal Arch Chapter, No. 23, was or- 
ganized. This chapter took the place of Fitzwilson Chapter, that 
flourished in town some years before the Civil war, although it did 
not take the old name or number. 

In the year 1875 Fredericksburg Commandery, No. 1, of Knights 
Templar, was instituted, and has continued to flourish to the pres- 
ent. Some years ago the various bodies of the Scottish Rite branch 
of Masonry to the thirty-second degree, were organized in town of 
the Cerneau division, but as the question of legitimacy was raised 
as to that rite these organizations were abandoned. The three 
Masonic bodies, however, that are now in operation are in a flour- 
ishing condition and can confer all the degrees in ancient York 
Masonry. 

On the 22nd of December, 1753, a "Royal Arch Lodge" was held 
in connection wdth the Fredericksburg Lodge, Simon Fraser, act- 
ing Grand Master. On that occasion the Royal Arch degree was 
conferred on Daniel Campbell, Robert Halkerson and Alexander 
Wodrow. The proceedings of this meeting were recorded in the 
record book of the lodge and are preserved to this day ; and, strange 
as it may appear, the fact is well established and admitted by the 
Masonic historians of England that this is the oldest record, by nine 
years, of conferring this degree that has yet been discovered in 
any country. The next oldest record is found in York, England, 
which was made in 1762. 

ODD FELLOWS LODGE. 

The first lodge of Odd Fellows organized in Fredericksburg was 
in the year 1839, and was known as Rappahannock Lodge, No. 14. 
It continued a working lodge only about three years. The last 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 221 

report it made to the Grand Lodge showed a membership of thirty- 
nine. Its suspension seems to have been brought about by some 
unruly, if not unworthy, members who had brought strife and 
discord into the lodge. In the year 1847, on the petition of five 
members of the old lodge — Wm. Baily, Wm. Smith, George Waite, 
AYm. T. Lowery and A. B. Adams — a charter was granted for in- 
stituting Myrtle Lodge, No. 50, and which has continued in active 
operation to the present. It has a large membership, composed of 
our best citizens. The charter of this lodge was signed by Major 
J, Harrison Kelly, who then lived in Charlestown, now West A^ir- 
ginia, and who was Grand Master of the State. In after years he 
became a citizen of Fredericksburg and ended his days in this town. 

The meetings of the lodge were at first held at private houses, 
and at one time in Haydon's Hall, on Charlotte street, in rear of 
Wheeler's livery stable. After the Civil war the meetings were held 
in the room immediately under the Masonic lodge-room, and con- 
tinued there until about 1892, when the Odd Fellows, in connection 
with the Knights of Pythias, erected the splendid hall on Main 
street, where they held their meetings for some years, but, believing 
it to be to their interest to dispose of their stock in the new hall, 
they did so and moved the lodge to the third story of the Bradford 
Building. 

In 1903 a second Odd Fellows Lodge was organized under a 
charter from the Grand Lodge, known as Acorn Lodge, ISTo. 261. 
Although young, this lodge has grown with great rapidity and has 
a large membership. It was organized in the Masonic lodge-room, 
and afterward rented the hall under the said Masonic lodge, where 
it now holds its meetings. Among the membership of these Od^ 
Fellows lodges may be found many of the most substantial and pro- 
gressive citizens of the town. 

THE BENEVOLENT ORDER OF ELKS. 

The Order of Elks now stands as the youngest of the three promi- 
nent secret orders on this continent, and since it came into exis- 
tence, in 1868, has shown one of the most phenomenal growths that 
has ever been recorded for a similar benevolent order. It has for 



222 Historij of Fredericlisliurg, Virginia 

its teaching Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity, and 
for its motto "The faults of our brothers we write in the sand, and 
their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory." Five years 
ago a few progressive spirits of Fredericksburg, catching the inspi- 
ration the order of Elks taught, met and organized a lodge of Elks. 
A lodge was organized on the 23rd of June, 1903, under the name 
Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 875, Mr. 0. L. Harris being the first 
presiding officer. The lodge now has ninety members, C. Ernest 
Layton being the present exalted ruler. 

There are also in Fredericksburg a number of other benevolent 
and charitable fraternities, whose origin is of a more recent date 
than the Masons, Odd Fellows and Elks, under the various names 
of Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, Eoyal Arcanum, Senior 
and Junior Orders of i^merican Mechanics, Laboring Men's Union, 
Heptasophs, Maccabees, Sons of Sobriety — a temperance order 
whicli originated in Fredericksburg and was first organized as a 
moderate drinking society— Eed Men, Knights of the Golden 
Horseshoe, Good Samaritans and others, all of which are in a flour- 
ishing condition and are doing a good work in dispensing charity, 
in providing cheap life insurance and endeavoring to elevate their 
fellowmen. 

THE MAEY WASHINGTON HOSPITAL.* 

The need of a hospital in Fredericksburg had long been felt, and 
in January, 1897, a band of ladies, led by Mrs. W. Seymour White, 
invited the physicians and ministers of the city to meet with them 
and consider the feasibility of undertaking such a work. The 
medical fraternity pronounced it a necessity and the ministers 
heartily concurred. 

The late Hon. W. Seymour White, at that time Mayor of the city, 
was deeply interested in the scheme from the beginning and drew 
up a charter, constitution and by-laws. The formal organization 
was effected in February, 1897, at a large, general meeting held in 
the courthouse. Mrs. W. S. White was elected president; Miss 
Eebecca Smith, vice-president; Miss Bertha Strasburger, secretary; 
Mrs. C. W. Edrington, treasiirer. 

• Mrs. V. M. P. prepared this article. ' . 




Entrance to the Confederate Cemetery at Fredericksburg. 

(See page 185) 




Lodge Room of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M. ; the 
Lodge that made Washington a Mason. 
(See page 217) 



History of Fredericksburg , Virainia 223 

Mrs. White served as president for three terms, when she resigned 
and her place was filled by Mrs. Walter C. Stearns. The present 
ojfiicers are Mrs. Judge John E. Mason, president; Miss Virginia 
Knox, vice-president; Mrs. Maurice Hirsh, treasurer, and Mrs. 
D. C. Bowman, secretar}^ There is a board of lad}^ managers and 
an advisory board of seven gentlemen, of whom the Mayor of the 
city is always one. The membership fee is one dollar per year and 
there is a large number of names on the roll. 

Immediately after the organization of the institution the city 
was thoroughly canvassed and both money and furnishings were 
contributed generally by our people, besides by a number of persons 
living at a distance. As soon as the amount Justified the action, a 
large and suitable building lot, situated on the corner of Fauquier 
and Sophia streets^ was purchased. This lot has a beautiful river 
view and is directly opposite Chatham, the old historic place, 
famous both in colonial and recent history. 

The one inflexible rule, laid down from the beginning of the 
work, was that there should be no debt incurred, and the work of 
raising the necessary funds was a tedious undertaking. Every lady 
appealed to her friends, and the amount thus collected, together 
with that realized through holding bazaars, ice cream festivals, 
entertainments and lectures, was carefully deposited until the sum 
of fourteen hundred dollars was accumulated, which the ladies 
thought sufficient to erect a small building. 

The plan was donated by Mr. George Washington Smith and 
proved acceptable. The corner-stone was laid April 14, 1899, this 
day being chosen to commemorate George Washington's latest visit 
to Fredericksburg and his dying mother. The corner-stone itself 
is a portion of the old Mary Washington monument, begun in 1833, 
and never completed, and was donated by Mr. John H. Myer. It 
was laid with imposing Masonic ceremonies by Fredericksburg 
Lodge, 'No. 4, A. F. and A. M., in which George Washington was 
made a Mason, District Deputy Grand Master James P. Corbin 
presiding, Eev. F. P. Eamsey, D. D., of Fredericksburg College, 
making an impressive address on the occasion. 

The hospital was completed the summer following, and all the 



224 History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 

money in the treasury was expended. The house faces the east 
and is a modest structure, with a porch in front and an extension on 
the west end. Two rooms open upon the entrance hall, one of 
which is the operating room, the other the especial room for a 
single patient. Back of this is a hall, running north and south, 
heyond which is the kitchen, matron's room, hath-room and store 
rooms; cellar beneath for wood and such articles as can be kept 
there. In the extensions are respectively the two large, well-lighted 
and ventilated rooms for the men's and women's Avards. 

The capacity of the hospital is small, but there is plenty of 
room for any additions which the future may warrant being made. 
With the faith that characterized the movement from the begin- 
ning, the ladies met on September 25, 1899, elected a matron, Miss 
Virginia Aldridge, and appointed Wednesday, October 4th, "'Dona- 
tion Day.'' Their confidence was rewarded and donations poured 
in from every one, rich and poor. Among so many it would be 
invidious to mention names, but Mr. Spencer, of Snowden, a new 
comer to Fredericksburg, liberally furnished the single room with 
every appliance for comfort in illness, and the ladies gratefully 
named it, for him, the Spencer room. From the driiggists came a 
generous donation of accessories, and everything — chairs and 
china, beds and other belongings — came in abundantly. 

On Sunday, October Stli, the building was formally dedicated, 
Eev. W. D. Smith, rector of St. George's church, presiding, all the 
ministers having been invited to participate in the ceremonies, 
which were simple, but appropriate. The first patient was received 
in December, and since that time there has been continued service 
in the hospital. There is no endowment, and it is hoped that, 
seeing the work, some humanely-disposed individual may be moved 
to undertake this noble charity. 

By heroic efforts there have been no debts incurred, the citizens 
having so far responded in every case of need; yet there is much 
lacking, both in furniture and appliances. Donations of every 
kind are urgently desired. The physicians are most liberal in their 
services and attentions and their work is to their great honor, for, 
of the several diffcult cases thus far operated upon each has been 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 225 

successful, and the recipient has returned home sounding the 
praises of the Mary Washington Hospital and its medical service. 
May the good work grow and prosper. Since this article was 
written the building has been greatly enlarged and improved, and 
the hospital is regarded as a permanent institution with a noble 
mission. 

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. 

The first newspaper established in Fredericksburg was the semi- 
weekly "Virginia Herald and Falmouth Advertiser/' in 1786, by 
Timothy Green. It was soon found that the name was too long 
and was no advantage to the paper, and in a few months the Fal- 
mouth Advertiser part of the name was dropped and the paper was 
continued as the Virginia Herald. Some years after its establish- 
ment Mr. Green associated with him in the conduct of the paper 
a Mr. Lacy and Mr. James D. Harrow, and the firm name was 
Green, Lacy & Harrow. This firm was succeeded by Wm. F. Gray, 
and he by James D. Harrow, a practical printer,, who conducted 
the paper for many years, with Jesse "WHiite, afterwards known as 
"'the old practical printer," as foreman. 

Mr. Harrow died in 1851, and the office, fixtures and good will 
were purchased by Major J. Harrison Kelly, who conducted the 
Virginia Herald successfully as a semi-weekly until the year 1875, 
when failing health compelled him to discontinue its publication 
and it has never been resumed. 

A bound volume of this paper, running through the years 1796, 
1797 and 1798, is now owned by this writer, who prizes it very 
highly. Its columns have furnished accounts of incidents, dates 
and gatherings of the people in public meetings, noted in this 
historical sketch of the town. 

In the year 1795 another paper was started in Fredericksburg, 
known as the "Genius of Liberty and Fredericksburg and Falmouth 
Advertiser." This name was even larger, longer and less euphoni- 
ous than the first name of its competitor, the Virginia Herald, and, 
like its competitor, soon dropped most of it. This paper came into 
existence at a time when party spirit ran high and the political 
blood was at fever heat. It vigorously espoused the cause of what 
15 



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or l,lii'('<' y<'ii,('M III, niOMl, 

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xooii (»iir'liiii:''l l»y ii j<)i(il, ;',lo<l' coinpfiiiy lui'l il:' |Hihli''iil ion 'oti 



228 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

tinned to the present. Under its first management the "Free 
Lance" was issued as a semi-weekly, but as its circulation increased 
it was changed to a tri-weekly, and was the first and only tri-weekly 
publication the town ever had. Another innovation the "Free 
Lance" made in the newspaper history of Fredericksburg was the 
introduction of a power press. Prior to this all the newspapers 
were printed on Hoe hand presses, but the "Free Lance," under 
Woltz & Bradley, boasted of a power press of a capacity of twelve 
hundred papers an hour, which was soon exchanged for one of six- 
teen hundred an hour. A third innovation made by the "Free 
Lance" was the purchase and use of a folding machine. This was 
a new machine in town and was observed by those who had never 
before seen one with much curiosity. It can fold papers as fast as 
they are printed, and is quite an improvement on the old way of 
hand folding. 

The publication of the "Virginia Star" was commenced in the 
year 1869 by Rufus B. Merchant as a semi-weekly, and was so con- 
ducted until 1895. During that year Mr. Merchant added another 
edition and sent out the "Daily Evening Star." This was some- 
thing "new under the sun" in Fredericksburg, and its advent and 
probable success were freely discussed by the public and various 
opinions were expressed. The prevailing opinion, however, seemed 
to be that its publication was a mistake on the part of the proprietor 
and the scheme would end in financial loss. Others thought it 
would flourish for a short time and receive support because it was 
a home enterprise, but that it would eventually be crowded out by 
the big dailies of neighboring cities and would disappear. But 
such was not the case. It is yet making its daily evening visits, 
improves as the days go by, and has evidently come to stay. 

In 1896 the Star office, with its entire outfit, was purchased by 
W. Seymour White and Alvin T. Embrey, who continued to 
publish both editions of the paper, and upon the death of Mr. 
White, in the early part of the year 1898, his interest was pur- 
chased by Mr. Embrey, who became the sole editor and proprietor 
of the Star. In 1900 Judge Embrey sold out to a joint stock 
company, and under its management both editions of the paper 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 229 

made their regular visits to the homes of subscribers. This paper 
has been purchased by the Free Lance Company, which sends out 
both the Free Lance and Daily Star. 

On the 2nd day of January, 1837, the first issue of the "Masonic 
Olive Branch and Literary Portfolio" was published by James D. 
McCabe and John M. Ball. It was a semi-monthly publication, at 
two dollars per annum in advance, and was devoted principally to 
Masonry and Odd Fellowship. A bound volume of this publication 
is now in possession of Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge, and, from 
its typographical appearance, one would suppose it to have been 
printed by Jesse White, the practical printer, on his old Eamage 
hand press. By Mr. BalFs retirement a few months after the ap- 
pearance of the paper, Mr. McCabe became the sole editor and 
proprietor. We have no information as to how long the Portfolio 
was published. 

In 1868 "The Little Gleaner," a thirty-two page periodical, was 
published by Miss L. Fauntleroy. It was a monthly publication, 
devoted to general subjects, and intended especially to interest and 
instruct the young folks. After two years' labor, toil and sacrifice^ 
not meeting with the success she had hoped for, the proprietress 
discontinued its publication. 

In the year 1900 a number of the progressive business men of the 
town, feeling that Fredericksburg was not moving along in public 
improvements as rapidly as it should, and that the City Council 
was too slow in passing the necessary measures for such improve- 
ments, organized a Joint stock company and commenced the publi- 
cation of "The Fredericksburg Journal." The Journal, diiferent 
from the other papers of the town, was at first a weekly issue, its 
subscription price being twenty-five cents per annum. It has in- 
formed the public in strong language that it has come to stay and 
progress is its watch word. In a short time it was sold to Mr. E. 
L. Biscoe, when he in turn sold it to the Fredericksburg Journal 
Company, who put more life and vim into it, and now its cus- 
tomers are served with both a semi-weekly and daily, which give 
the general news from the surrounding country and stand for im- 
provement of the town, honesty in city affairs, and justice to all 
with special favors to none. 



330 History of Frederickshurg, Virginia 

POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 

Elsewhere we have referred to party divisions in Fredericksburg 
about the close of the eighteenth century. This division showed 
itself, prior to the Eevolutionary war, because many of the people 
of the town were strongly opposed to separation from the mother 
country, deeming the grievances complained of insufficient for such 
a radical movement. But even the war and its result did not allay 
the bitter feeling. It was still kept up after peace was declared 
on all public questions, and became more intense, even to boiling 
over at times. This ebullition arose with the question of the 
adoption or rejection of the Constitution of the United States, and 
after its adoption it continued with increasing intensity over the 
construction of that instrument and the authority it conferred upon 
the President. New fuel was added to the flame when Congress 
passed the act known as the Alien and Sedition law, which con- 
ferred extraordinary power on the President in times of peace. 

These questions were the theme of spirited, and even angry, dis- 
cussions at all gatherings of the peoj)le on court greens, market 
places and elsewhere, but the climax of feeling was reached when 
the foreign policy of President John Adams was developed, espe- 
cially with reference to our attitude towards France. Mr. Monroe, 
a citizen of this town, Avho for some time had been our foreign 
minister to France, had been recalled by Mr. Adams and another 
more in accord with the administration was sent in his stead, and 
it appeared that Avar Avith our former friend and ally could not be 
averted. 

Many of the leading citizens of the toAvn endorsed the policy of 
the President, AAdiile a decided majority strongly opposed it. The 
bitter feeling continued to increase. jSFot only was Fredericksburg 
in a state of ebullition, but such Avas the case with the people 
throughout the entire country. Fredericksburg was the first to 
speak her vicAvs publicly, which has always been characteristic 
of her people when questions affecting the public good were to be 
considered. 

A public meeting of the people Avas called at the courthouse by 
the friends of the administration to consider and adopt an address 



History of Fredericlhshurg , Virginia 331 

to the President, which was then the prevailing mode of communi- 
cating popular approval of the conduct of high officials. The 
meeting was extensively advertised and efforts were made to have it 
largely attended. This brought on a lively contest. The anti- 
administrationists of the town determined to try their strength with 
their opponents by attendiDg the meeting, vote down their address 
and adopt resolutions setting forth their views and condemning the 
policy of the administration. To accomplish this the town was 
thoroughly canvassed by them, which had already been done by the 
other party, and the courthouse was filled to its utmost capacity. 

The meeting was held on the 14th day of May, 1798, and the 
"Virginia Herald," the presidential organ of the town, gave the 
proceedings in full, which will show the temper of the people and 
their defiant condemnation of the foreign policy of President 
Adams. The Herald said : 

"On Monday the citizens of this corporation met, agreeably to 
notification published in the public papers, to express their senti- 
ments on the present important and critical situation of this 
country. The meeting was called by the friends of the Executive, 
whose object was to address the President of the United States 
and to express their entire approbation of his conduct with respect 
to our foreign relations. 

"An address to this effect was prepared and presented by Thomas 
E. Eootes, Esq., which he supported by very lengthy arguments. 
He was followed by Capt. John Mercer, Col. John Minor and Col. 
John F. Mercer, who successfully combatted the various arguments 
adduced by Mr. Bootes in support of his address. And the follow- 
ing resolutions then, prepared by Dr. David C. Ker, were approved 
and adopted. A division was called for on the address and resolu- 
tions and tellers appointed to take the number of votes, who re- 
ported that tAvo-thirds of the citizens present were in favor of the 
resolutions. The meeting was more numerous than any we have 
ever seen in this place. During the whole of the discussion the 
most perfect order and decorum prevailed." 

The resolutions, adopted in place of the address, will be interest- 
ing reading to our people, even in this day. They are as follows : 



232 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

1. Resolved, As the oiDinion of this meeting that the administra- 
tion of these States received the government of a happy and united 
people, in peace abroad and prosperity at liome; that under their 
guidance, we have been led, oppressed with public, heavy debts, 
enormous taxes, a ruined commerce and depreciated produce, into 
hostility with a nation who aided to secure our independence by 
their own blood and treasure, with a republic the most powerful 
and successful that has appeared on earth for eighteen centuries, 
armed with every weapon to injure us, but whom we can in no 
wise injure ; with a republic united with a confederacy so extensive 
as to separate us from all the civilized world but Britain, and her 
dependencies; that they have done this, not through ignorance and 
folly only, for they were at all times warned of the certain conse- 
quence of their measures; not through constraint, for although 
opposed, they always carried their measures; but men who have 
proved themselves by their own works, so unfit to govern us, even 
with every advantage, can never without madness be trusted in 
times of real difficulty and extreme danger; and that it is equally 
absurd to found confidence in our disasters, or to pursue that line, 
or to support those men who have already brought us to ihe verge 
of destruction. 

2nd. Eesolved, That the speech of the President of the United 
States to the ordinary session of Congress, was, in the opinion of 
this meeting, calculated to rouse the resentment of the French gov- 
ernment and destroy any reasonable hope of successful negotiations 
between that republic and agents appointed by him. 

3rd. Eesolved, That the instructions to our envoys, so contrary to 
the spirit of that speech and the whole conduct of our administra- 
tion, authorize this conclusion: — that they were rather intended 
to inflame the American mind than to produce good in France, 
under the well grounded expectation, that the negotiations would, 
from those and other causes, fail. 

4th. Resolved, That the late negotiations with unauthorized 
swindlers in Paris, are so unexampled as to afford no justifiable 
ground for public measures, and that their publication, so far as 
they tend to excite the sensibility of our citizens, is unjustifiable, 
as they may commit the safety of the envoys highly imprudent. 




The "Charity School," started by Benj. Day and others in the 
latter part of the eighteenth century. 
(See page 194;) 




The Fire Department. 

(See page 144) 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 233 

5th. Eesolved, That the militia are the only safe and constitu- 
tional defence of these States; that they alone are adequate to this 
object;, and that they will ever prove so, if guided by good govern- 
ment. 

6th. Eesolved, That we hold it to be our bounden duty, and we 
do solemnly pledge ourselves, firmly, to support our National rights 
and independence whenever assailed by foreign invasion or domestic 
usurpation. 

Fontaine Maury was chairman of this large gathering of the peo- 
ple and signed the resolutions adopted by the meeting. They were 
then sent to Hon. John Dawson, representative in Congress from 
this district, who laid them before the extra session of Congress for 
the consideration of that body. These resolutions, adopted on the 
14th of May, 1798, setting forth the principles upon which their 
authors believed the Union was founded, and upon which the govern- 
ment should be administered, were the basis for the famous resolu- 
tions drawn by Mr. Madison and passed by the Virginia Legislature 
on the 2nd of December of the same year, which have since been the 
theme of Virginia Statesmen of that school when they would 
"revert to first principles." 

The address, which was presented to the meeting and voted down 
by such a large majority, was directed to the President of the 
United States, and was as follows : 

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town and corporation 
of Fredericksburg, in the State of Virginia, assembled at our town 
house, this 14th day of May, 1798, by a public notice, for the pur- 
pose of expressing our sense of the conduct of our government, in 
regard to its foreign relations, do communicate to you, as the sense 
of the subscribers, that your several attempts to restore that har- 
mony between the United States and the French republic, which 
has been so unfortunately impaired, and to reinstate that good 
understanding between the two nations so desirous to the lovers of 
peace, have been wise and prudent, and entitle you to the highest 
evidence of our esteem; and that whatever may be the opinion of 
foreign nations, with respect to divisions among ourselves, should 



234 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

it be the misfortune of our country to be involved in a war with any 
nation, you will always find us ready with our lives and fortunes to 
support and defend the Constitution and laws of our country. 

After the address had been voted down as not reflecting the sen- 
timents of a majority of the citizens of the town, not to be foiled in 
their desire to let the President know that they approved his policy, 
the friends of the administration determined to make three copies 
of the address and leave it at three places in town for the signatures 
of those who approved it. The three places named were Wm. 
Taylor's, George W. B. Spooner's and the Herald office. The fol- 
lowing gentlemen signed the address : 

George W. B. Spooner, Wm. Drummond, Elisha Hall, Wm. 
Jones, Anthony Buck, Eichard Eichards, Eobert Patton, Wm. Glas- 
sell, Tho. Southcomb, Andrew Parks, Tho. Eootes, Peter Gordon, 
Wm. Taylor, George Murray, James Pettigrew, Timothy Green, 
Wm. Payne, James Carmichael, Law. Bowes, Thos. Hodge, George 
French, Eichard Johnston, Jr., John Anderson, John Coakley, 
Wm. Fitzhugh, of Chatham, Charles Croughton, David Henderson, 
Eoger Coltart, David Blair, Jeff. Wright, Charles Yates, Wm. 
Lovell, Alexander Duncan, Wm. Wilson, Eob. Lilly, Thos. Cochran, 
James Stevenson, John Brownlow, Jos. Thornton, BenJ. Day, Wm. 
Wiatt, Zack. Mayfield, John Newton, David Simons, Philip Lips- 
comb, Daniel Grinnan, James Vanshell, Daniel Stark, Samuel 
Stevens, Godlove Heiskell, Thos. P. Basye, John Harris, Thomas 
Seddon, Jr., Eobert Wellford, Philip Glover, John Legg, Edward 
McDermot, John Alcock, Jacob Grotz, John Moore, Adam Darby, 
Tho. Miller, James Blair, Wm. Hamilton, E. Dykes, David Wil- 
liamson, Wm. Acres, Wm. Talbot, James Eoss, John Bogan, Eobert 
Walker, John Kirck, Sam. M. Douglas, Wm. Welsh, Alexander S. 
Eoe, John Dare, James Slater, Charles Stewart, Christian Helm- 
stetter, Wm. Smith, Benj. Sabastian, James Adams. 



CHAPTER XVI 

Some Distinguished Men Buried in FredericJcshurg — A EemarJcable 
Grave Stone — Three Heroic Fredericlshurgers, Wellford, 
Herndon, Willis — The Old Liberty Bell Fosses Through Toiun 
— Great Demonstrations in its Honor — What a Chinaman 
Thought of it. 

A town is not less renowned for the noble, heroic dead who sleep 
within its borders than it is for its gallant soldiers, Statesmen and 
others who are yet on the stage of action. Indeed its renown may 
be more enduring because of its dead than of its living. The deeds 
of the dead are embalmed in our hearts and in history and cannot 
be tarnished, obscured or obliterated. The greatest deeds of the 
living may be obscured and even almost blotted from the approving 
mind by some adverse, evil cloud — by some act of folly or perfidy. 

If Judas Iscariot had died before he betrayed his Master his good 
deeds would have lived forever. If a Britton's bullet had taken oif 
Benedict Arnold before his treasonable thoughts had resolved into 
action he would have been written down in history as one of the 
heroes of America. We, therefore, with pride refer to some distin- 
guished men who peacefully sleep within our corporate limits. 

ARCPIIBALD m'pHEKSO:N". 

Archibald McPherson was born in 1715 in the northern part of 
England. He came to this country in early manhood and settled 
in Spotsylvania county. He is represented as being a gentleman 
of education, refinement and wealth, and a friend to the poor and 
needy. He died in the prime of manhood, leaving to the world an 
unsullied name and to the poor of the town a legacy to be expended 
in the education of their children, which is elsewhere mentioned 
in these pages. 

Mr. McPherson was interred in the burial ground of St. George's 
church and a marble slab erected over his grave, which is now 
secured to the wall of the Mission House, at the west end of the 
lot on Princess Ann street. On that slab is the following inscrip- 
tion: 

[235 ] 



236 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

"Here lies the body of Archibald McPherson, born in the county 
of Murray, in North Britain, who died August 17, 1754, aged 49 
years. He was judicious, a lover of learning, open hearted, gener- 
ous and sincere. Devout, without ostentation ; disdaining to cringe 
to vice in any station. Friend to good men, an affectionate 
husband. 

A heap of dust alone remains of thee, 

'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be. 

"Elizabeth, his disconsolate widow, as a testimony of their 
mutual affection, erected this monument to his memory." 

COL. JOHN DANDRIDGE. 

In the burial ground of St. George's church, near the northeast 
corner of the building, lies buried the father of Martha Washington, 
which fact has only some years since been brought to light, or if it 
had been before knoAvn, it was by the citizens of the past generation 
of the town. The reason it was unknown to the present generation 
is accounted for from the fact that the slab over the grave has been 
covered with dirt for more than half a century, most likely from 
the erection of the present church building, and was discovered only 
a few years ago. When the grave was discovered the slab covering 
it was cleaned off, and the inscription on it was found to read as 
follows : 

"Here lies the body of Col. John Dandridge, of Kew Kent county, 
who departed this life the 31st day of August, 1756, aged 56 years." 

How he came to be buried in Fredericksburg is not positively 
known. It has been claimed by some persons that he was here on 
a visit to his daughter Martha, who married Gen. Washington, 
and the weather was so hot that his body could not be taken back 
to New Kent couiity, but that cannot be true because he was buried 
here more than two years before his daughter married Washington. 

The most satisfactory explanation of Col. Dandridge's presence 
in Fredericksburg, that we have heard given, is that he was attend- 
ing the celebrated races at Chatham, held by Wm. Fitzhugh, which 
drew to the town people from all sections of the country. But be 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 237 

that as it may, this Col. Dandridge is beyond doubt the father of 
Martha Washington, unless there were two gentlemen by that name 
and bearing the same appellation residing in New Kent county at 
that time, which is not probable. Haydon's "Virginia Families" 
says of Washington : 

"Married at Wliite House, jSTew Kent county, Ya., Jan. 6, 1759, 
Martha Dandridge, daughter of Col. John Dandridge, of ISTeM^ 
Kent county, and widow, of Daniel Parke Custis." 

WM. PATTL — JOHN PAUL JONES. 

There also lie interred in the burial ground of St. George's 
church, Avith an unpretentious stone marking the place, the remains 
of William Paul, a merchant of the town and a native of Scotland, 
who died here in 1773. In 1770 he purchased from Thomas and 
Jane Blanton, "for one hundred and twenty pounds, an acre or one- 
half of the lot or land lying and being in the town of Fredericks- 
burg, and designated in the plot of said town by the number or 
figures 258, the same being one-half, or south end of said lot, and 
purchased by the said Thomas Blanton of Eoger Dixon, G-ent, and 
bound on the main street, called Caroline street, and the cross 
street, called Prussia, together with all houses, buildings, gardens, 
ways, profits, hereditraments and appurtenances whatever." This 
lot is designated on the map of the town to-day as 258, and the 
house in which Wm. Paul conducted • his mercantile business is 
the one occupied and owned at present by Matthew J. Gately. 

Notwithstanding his biographers to the contrary, Wm. Paul 
made a will in 1772, in which he appointed his friends, Wm. Temple- 
man and Isaac Heslop, his executors, which was witnessed by John 
Atkinson, Thomas Holmes and B. Johnston. The executors de- 
clined to serve and the estate remained until late in the next year 
without any one being legally authorized to take charge of it. In 
November, 1774, John Atkinson qualified, it is supposed at the in- 
stance of John Paul, who had arrived here to wind up the estate, 
with John Waller, Jr., as surety, who was afterwards released and 
Charles Yates became his surety. 

This Wm. Paul was the brother of John Paul, who afterwards 



238 History of Frederic'ksburg, Virginia 

became the famous John Paul Jones. It has been asserted that 
Wm. Paul changed his name to Jones to inherit a plantation from 
Wm. Jones^ either in Virginia or North Carolina. But this is 
shown to be a mistake from the fact that Wm. Paul, in 1770, 
bought property here as Wm. Paul, made his Mali in 1773 and 
signed it Wm. Paul, and died in 1773 and his tomb stone now 
bears on it the name of Wm. Paul. It was further asserted that in 
the agreement by which the plantation was to become the property 
of Wm. Paul, if Wm. Paul died without issue, the property was to 
go to John Paul on the condition that he would add Jones to his 
name, and that William did die without issue and the estate of 
William went to John. This is also a mistake. William did not 
die intestate, but made a will and gave his entire estate to his 
sister, Mary Young, and her two oldest children. 

One clause of the will reads as follows : "It is my will and desire 
that my lots and houses in this town shall be sold and converted 
into money for as much as they will bring, that with all my other 
estate being sold, and what of my outstanding debts that can be col- 
lected, I give and bequeath to my beloved sister, Mary Young, and 
her two oldest children in Abigland, in the parish of Kirkbean, in 
Stewarty of Galloway, ISTorth Briton, and their heirs forever." It 
is not believed that Wm. Paul owned any property out of town 
from the fact that the bond of his administrator was only five hun- 
dred pounds, Avhich was generally double the amount of the estate. 
His estate in town consisted of his houses and lots, his merchandise 
and accounts due him, which must have been worth twelve or fif- 
teen hundred dollars. Therefore the bond of $2,500 was sufficient 
only for his possessions in town, and no other is alluded to or 
mentioned in his will. It has been held that he owned property in 
the county of Spotsylvania, but that arises from the fact there 
were others by the name of Paul in the county who had property. 
But this William Paul is traced by the reference in his will to the 
parish of Kirkbean, GalloAvay, where his sister, Mary Young, and 
brother John lived. 

Why John Paul changed his name to Jones was probably known 
only to himself. Many writers have undertaken to explain it, but 



History of Frederichshurg , Virginia 239 

without success, and the mystery is yet unsolved. In 1775 John 
Paul Jones's name heads a list of naval lieutenants, and, because of 
his meritorious services, he was soon appointed a captain, and 
finally rose to the rank of commodore. His daring exploits and 
unequal, but successful, contests soon won for him the thanks of 
the American Congress, as well as the gratitude of the American 
people, while it carried terror and dismay to the enemies of his 
country. He greatly humiliated England by landing his fleet on 
her shores during the Eevolutionary war, a thing that had not been 
done before for centuries, if ever, since it was a nation. 

At the close of the war, in which he had covered himself with 
glory, he was ofllered an important command by the Empress of 
Eussia against the Turks in the Black sea, which he accepted with 
the stipulation "that he was never to renounce the title of an 
American citizen." He died in Paris in 1792, and was buried in 
that cit}^, aged forty-five years. General Washington, then Presi- 
dent of the United States, had just commissioned him for an 
important duty, but he died before the commission reached him. 
As the many years rolled on, rounding up a century, his body laid 
in an unknown grave, notwithstanding many efforts Avere made to 
locate it. In 1900 a body was found believed to be his, and there 
was great rejoicing in this country over the announcement, but, 
when carefully examined, it was found to be the remains of another 
and not those of the great American commodore. But this did not 
discourage those who had the matter in hand, and the search con- 
tinued under the direction of Gen. Horace Porter, the American 
Ambassador to the Court of Prance, under great difficulties. On 
the 7th of April, 1905, the body was found in a cemetery known 
as Saint Louis, which was laid out in 1720 for a burial place for 
Protestants, but which had been closed more than half a century, 
and buildings were constructed upon it at the time of the dis- 
covery of the body. The remains were declared to be those of 
John Paul Jones, after every test had been applied that could be, 
and they were accepted by our government as those of the great 
naval hero. Some time was spent in preparing to remove the 
remains to this country, but early in 1906 they were placed upon 



340 History of Frederichshurg, VirgivAa 

a United States man of war, escorted by vessels from England and 
France, and were landed at Annapolis, where they were reinterred 
in the presence of thousands of people from all parts of the coun- 
try, with booming of cannon and every honor a grateful people 
could bestow upon him. 

GEN. LEWIS LITTLEPAGE. 

Gen. Lewis Littlepage, who died and was buried here in the 
burying ground of Masonic Lodge jSTo. 4, was born in Hanover 
count}^, Virginia, and was one of the most brilliant men the State 
ever produced. His career was short, but in that short life he 
greatly distinguished himself as a scholar, soldier and diplomat. 
He was the protege of John Jay at the Court of France in 1782, 
was wounded at the siege of Gibraltar, was a member of the cabinet 
of the king of Poland, and the King's chamberlain, with the rank 
of major-general; negotiated a treaty with the Empress of Eussia, 
was a secret and special envoy to the Court of France to form the 
Grand Quadruple Alliance; was with Prince Potempkin in his 
march through Tartary des ISTegais; commanded a flotilla under 
Prince Nassau at his victory over the fleet of Turkey ; was sent on 
an important mission to Madrid, in which he 'was successful ; re- 
sisted the Russian invaders of Poland as aide-de-camp to the King ; 
signed the Confederation of Fargowitz; envoy to St. Petersburg 
to prevent the division of Poland, but was stopped by the Russian 
government; was with Kosciusko in his attempt to free Poland; 
was at the storming of Prague, and was with King Stanislaus when 
he was captured by the Russians. 

At the death of Stanislaus, Gen. Littlepage, becoming sick of 
'European politics and broils, and, with his health shattered and 
gone, returned to America, settled in Fredericksburg and died 
before he had reached the age of forty years. His grave, in the 
western corner of the Masonic cemetery, is marked by a marble slab, 
which has on it this inscription: 

''Here lies the body of Lewis Littlepage, who was born in the 
county of Hanover, in the State of Virginia, on the 19th day of 
December, 1762, and departed this life in Fredericksburg, on the 



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History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 241 

19th of July, 1802, aged 39 years and 7 months. Honored for 
many years with the esteem and confidence of the unfortunate 
Stanislaus Augustus, King of Poland, he held under that monarch, 
until he lost his throne, the most distinguished offices, among which 
was that of Ambassador to Eussia. He was by him created the 
Knight of St. Stanislaus, chamberlain and confidential secretary 
in his cabinet, and acted as his special envoy in the most impor- 
tant occasions of talents, of military as well as civil, he served with 
credit as an officer of high rank in different arms. In private 
life he was charitable, generous and just, and in the various public 
offices which he filled he acted with uniform magnanimity, fidelity 
and honor." 

CAPT. WM. LEWIS HEENDOAt. 

Another hero, a native of Fredericksburg, whose remains found 
sepulture in a watery grave far out in the ocean's depths, is worthy 
of mention in these pages, "Wm. Lewis Herndon, an American 
naval officer, born October 25, 1813, drowned by the sinking of 
the steamer Central America, September 12, 1857. He entered the 
navy at the age of fifteen, served in the Mexican war, and was 
engaged three years with his brother-in-law. Lieutenant Maury, in 
the National Observatory, at Washington. In 1851-52 he explored 
the Amazon river under the direction of the United States govern- 
ment, * * * In 1857 he Avas the commander of the steamer 
Central America, which left Havana for New York on September 
8th, having on board 474 passengers, a crew of 105 men and about 
$2,000,000 of gold. On September the 11th, during a violent gale 
from the northeast and a heaYj sea, the vessel sprung a leak and 
sunk on the evening of September 12th near the outer edge of the 
Grulf stream, in latitude 31 degrees 44 minutes north. Only 152 
of the persons on board were saved, including the women and chil- 
dren; the gallant commander of the steamer was seen standing 
upon the wheel house at the time of her sinking."* Capt. Herndon 
was an uncle of Dr. Herndon, who sacrificed his life at Fernandina, 
Florida, elsewhere mentioned. 



* Appleton's Encyclopedia, Volume 9. 
15 



242 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

JACOB FRIEZE. 

Another man of note, remarkable for his physical endurance 
and strength of constitution, who lived in Fredericksburg and 
whose remains lie buried in the City cemetery, just to the left of 
the old gate on Commerce street, was Jacob Frieze. He died in 
1869, just after having passed the ninety-first anniversary of his 
birth. He was born in France, and was one of ISTapoleon's soldiers 
from the time his remarkable career commenced in Paris until it 
ended so disastrously at Waterloo. 

Much of the soldier life of Mr. Frieze was spent as a member of 
Napoleon's "Old Guard," that "could die, but could never sur- 
render," and he was never so happy as when telling of his thrilling 
war experiences and narrow escapes. He was in the famous re- 
treat from Moscow and could tell the most thrilling stories of the 
hardships and sufferings of the French army. The weather was 
intensely cold, sometimes reaching twenty-six degrees below zero, 
and, having to fight cold, hunger and the Eussians, it is not strange 
that Napoleon left behind him over 330,000 French or allies, dead 
or prisoners. This marching, fighting, suffering and dying were 
all fresh in the milid of Mr. Frieze, who was a participant and 
eye witness, and he would entertain crowds who would gather 
around him for hours. 

Prior to the Civil war there also lived in Fredericksburg Mr, 
John Eubank, who was a soldier under the Duke of Wellington at 
the battle of Waterloo and who stood guard over Napoleon on the 
Island of St. Helena. Notwithstanding the many years that had 
passed from their parting at Waterloo to their meeting again in 
Fredericksburg, Mr. Frieze and Mr. Eubank had not forgotten 
the sword and the spear and had not forgotten to dislike each other. 

It was amusing to the bystanders to see these old soldiers meet 
on the streets, as they would invariably shake their fists at each 
other and grind their teeth and pass on without uttering a word. 

Many of the citizens of the town still remember the willow 
baskets, of variegated colors, which Mr. Frieze made and peddled 
about town for a livelihood, as long as he was able to appear on the 
streets. Mr. Eubank moved to Charlottesville, where he died and 
was buried in that city. 



History of Fredericlsburg, Virginia 243 

A GRAND-NIECE OF WASHINGTON AND NAPOLEON. 

The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo sent into exile, among 
others, his grand-nephew, Prince Charles Louis Napoleon Achille 
Murat, a colonel in the defeated army, son of the exiled King of 
Naples and Charlotte Bonaparte. He settled in Tallahassee, Flor- 
ida. Soon Col. Byrd C. Willis, of Willis Hill, moved to the same 
city, carrying witii him his wife, Mary, daughter of Col. Fielding 
Lewis and Bettie Washington, and also his daughter, Catherine, 
who married a Mr. Grey and was left p 'vidow at sixteen. She was 
beautiful, accomplished, winsome and a leader in society. She 
attracted the attention of the young prince, who laid siege to her 
affections and was victorious. The marriage soon followed. By 
this union Catherine, who was a grand-niece of Gen. Washington,, 
became also a grand-niece of the great soldier. Napoleon Bona- 
parte. She was born where the National cemetery now stands 
and died in Florida August 6, 1867, in the 64th year of her age.. 

M^ELLFORD — HERNDON — WILLIS. 

In the City cemetery lie the remains of Doctor Francis Preston 
Wellford. Dr. Wellford was a native of Fredericksburg, where he 
was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him for his gentle 
and kind disposition, his upright life, his abounding charity and 
his deep piety. In 1871 he left his native town and settled in 
Jacksonville, Florida, where he commenced the practice of medicine 
and established a high reputation as a skillful physician. His. 
brethren of the profession were not slow in recognizing his ability 
and great worth, and made him president of the Medical Associa- 
tion of the State. He was holding that honorable position when 
the yelloAv fever scourge visited Fernandina, in 1877, which almost 
depopulated the town. For weeks it raged in the doomed city, 
and all of the physicians were either down with the disease or 
had become worn out with serving day and night. A call was 
made for assistance and volunteer physicians. Dr. Wellford, for- 
getting self, not fearing his personal danger, responded to the call 
and went to the sick and dying of the panic-stricken Fernandina. 
It was while ministering to those people he was stricken down and 



244 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

died of the disease. Thus went down to his grave, amidst the tears 
of thousands of people, the noble physician and Christian gentle- 
man, who sacrificed his life for the good of others. Dr. Wellford's 
remains, some years after his death, were brought to Fredericksburg 
for final interment, and now repose in our beautiful cemetery. 

In response to the call for physicians made by the people of 
Fernandina, another physician, born and raised in Fredericksburg, 
Dr. James C. Herndon, made his way to that city, and like Dr. 
Wellford, was stricken down and died from the disease. It is 
peculiarly appropriate that his sacrifice to professional duty should 
be acknowledged in connection with that of his brother physician's. 

To the honor of these noble men a memorial window has been 
placed in St. Peter's Episcopal church in Fernandina by Dr. J. H. 
TJpham, of Boston, who felt that they had honored the profession 
by the sacrifices they made, and he wanted their heroism to be 
placed upon a lasting record. In describing the window the Fer- 
nandina Mirror says : 

"The design is that of a crown in the upper section of the arch. 
Below this is a beautiful shield of purple illuminated glass. A 
cross of mother of pearl forms the center of the window, orna- 
mented by a bunch of grapes, with the symbol of the anchor repre- 
senting Hope, the holy Scriptures, illustrating Christian Faith; 
alpha and omega, the synibol of the Almighty Power, the beginning 
and the end; the cup of salvation, and the paten, the emblem of 
sacrifice. In the lower part of the window an illuminated tablet 
has the following inscription : 

Francis Preston Wellford, M. D., 

Born in Fredericksburg, Ya., 

Sept. 12th, 1829. 

James Carmichael Herndon, M. D., 

Born in Fredericksburg, Ya., 

Sept. 22nd, 1831. 

Died in the faithful discharge of their 

duties, at Fernandina, Florida, 

Oct. 18th, 1877. 



History of FredericJcsiurg, Virginia 245 

To whose memory as a grateful record of their noble lives and 
heroic deaths this window is dedicated by a New England mem- 
ber of the profession which they so much honored and adorned. 
' Greater love hath no man than this, 
That he lay down his life for his friends.' 

"The beautiful execution of this window, and the noble purpose 
to which it is dedicated by its generous donor, deserve the admira- 
tion and warm appreciation of the citizens of Fernandina, to 
whom the memory of Drs. Wellford and Herndon is deservedly 
dear, and will be regarded by our citizens as a graceful profes- 
sional tribute by Dr. Upham to these noble men, as well as an 
indication of his kind feelings towards our city. There is a strik- 
ing coincidence in the fact that these noble men should have been 
born in the same city, in the same month, and, having volunteered 
their services, reached Fernandina in the midst of the epidemic 
on the same day, and that their deaths should have occurred the 
same day. It was, therefore, peculiarly fitting that the same 
memorial should have been erected to those who were faithful in 
life, even unto death." 

William Willis, whose remains are buried in the City cemetery, 
left Fredericksburg for Memphis, Tenn., in the summer of 1870, 
which city he made his home. When the yellow fever scourge 
struck that place in 1878, and the city was deserted of most of its 
inhabitants, except the helpless, the sick and the dying, it was 
then, in spite of the entreaty of his friends to leave the city, that 
Wm. Willis stepped forth and took charge, as the chief executive 
in managing the affairs of the city, and in distributing food, cloth- 
ing and medicine, sent from all quarters of the country, to the 
sick, the helpless and the needy. It was while in the execution 
of this noble work that he too, was stricken down, and a few days' 
struggle with the terrible disease and William Willis was no more. 
In his delirium, feeling the great necessity of some one taking up 
the work, he had so faithfully prosecuted, where he was compelled 
to lay it down, he uttered these as his last words: "Send some 
good man to take my place," and then peacefully passed to the 
spirit land. 



246 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

Thus went down to their graves three Fredericksburg men in the 
years 1877-78 of yellow fever, who sacrificed their Own lives to save 
the lives of others. 

MRS. LUCY ANN COX. 

There is buried in the City cemetery Mrs. Lucy Ann Cox, with 
this inscription upon her head-stone. "Lucy Ann Cox, wife of 
James A. Cox, died December 17, 1891, aged 64 years. A sharer 
of the toils, dangers and privations of the 30th Va. regiment infan- 
try, C. S. A., from 1861 to 1865, and died beloved and respected 
by the veterans of that command." The stone was erected by her 
friends. Mrs. Cox was the daughter of Jesse White, the practical 
printer, and married Mr. Cox just before the Civil war. She 
followed him all through the campaign of the entire war, cooking 
and washing for the soldiers of her command, and often minister- 
ing to the sick and wounded. 

Molly Pitcher carried water from a spring, at Monmouth Court- 
house, Kew Jersey, to her husband and others who had charge of a 
cannon during the battle, and when she saw her husband shot 
•down and heard an officer order the gun to the rear, having no one 
to man it, she dropped her pail, ran to the cannon, seized the ram- 
mer and continued loading and firing the gun throughout the bat- 
tle. For this heroic act Washiugton praised her, gave her an 
honorary commission as captain and Congress voted her half pay 
for life. 

Mrs. Cox engaged in no battle, but instead of sharing the priva- 
tions and dangers of her husband at one battle she followed him 
through the entire war of four years, and was voted the honor of a 
Confederate veteran after the war by the veterans themselves. It 
is doubtful whether in all the past a similar instance can be found. 

A REMARKABLE GRAVE-STONE. 

There is to be found in the burial ground of St. George's church, 
at the east end of the Mission House, a grave-stone that has puzzled 
all antiquarians who have examined it and which has never yet 
been satisfactorily explained, and perhaps never will be. The in- 
scription is as follows: "Charles M. Eothrock, departed this life 



History of FredericJcshurg , Virginia 247 

Sept. 29, 1084, aged three years." The figures that make these 
dates are well preserved, much better than on many slabs and head- 
stones in the same burial ground, which do not date back a century 
and a half, yet on this slab the figures are quite legibly cut in the 
sandstone, and there can be no doubt that the year is 1084. It 
has been considered such a mystery and of such importance that 
a photograph of the stone was taken and an engraving made for 
this publication. 

THE LIBERTY BELL. 

The very name — Liberty Bell — is music to our ears, and the 
mention of it should fill the breast of every true American with 
patriotic enthusiasm. That bell hung over a hall in Philadelphia 
in 1776, in which the Continental Congress had met to consider 
the momentous question that was then stirring every patriotic 
heart — American freedom. Virginia was represented in that Con- 
gress by George Wythe, Eichard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, 
Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee 
and Carter Braxton. 

That body of patriots prepared, considered and adopted the 
Declaration of Independence, and as they finished signing their 
names to the instrument, on the fourth day of July, this bell rang 
out the thrilling news that Americans were freemen. Since that 
stirring event — that memorable day — that hall has been known as 
Independence Hall, and the bell that hung over it as the Liberty 
Bell. 

On the 4th of October, 1895, the old Liberty Bell passed through 
Fredericksburg on its way from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Georgia, 
where it was to be exhibited at the great exhibition in that city. 
Prior to its coming Mayor Eowe had been notified when it would 
arrive and how long it would remain for inspection. The City 
Council was called together and steps were taken to give the old 
bell a grand reception and cordial welcome. A set of patriotic 
resolutions was adopted, extolling the events that brought the bell 
into such popular favor, recounting the part taken in those events 
by Virginians and the precious legacy left to us by our self-sacrific- 
ing forefathers, until a patriotic fervor pervaded the town. 



248 History of Frederic'ks'burg, Virginia 

The bell was accompanied by Hon. Charles F. Warwick, Mayor of 
Philadelphia; Wencel Harman, President of the Common Council;, 
and thirteen members of that body; Charles K. Smith, Chairman 
of the Select Council, and thirteen members of that body; twelve 
officials of the city of Philadelphia, including S. A. Eisenhower, 
Chief of Bureau of City Property, and Custodian of the State House 
and Bell, with a guard of honor, consisting of four of the reserve 
police of Philadelphia. 

A party, including a committee from the City Council — Messrs. 
John T. Knight, E. D. Cole and J. Stansbury Wallace — met the bell 
at Quantico, where Judge James B. Sener, who had accompanied 
the party from Washington, delivered an appropriate address of 
welcome on the part of the State of Virginia. The party arrived in 
Eredericksburg on time, and found at the depot a vast concourse of 
people and a procession headed by Bowering's Band and the Wash- 
ington Guards, consisting of the Mayor, ex-Mayors, Common Coun- 
cil, Sons of Confederate A'^eterans, school children and citizens 
generally. 

All the bells in town were ringing, the steam whistles were blow- 
ing and everybody was rejoicing. Such a time had scarcely, if 
ever, been seen before by our people. As soon as the train bearing 
the bell and escort halted. Mayor Eowe and others went on board 
the car, and, after the usual introductions and salutations, Mayor 
Eowe, who was somewhat indisposed, presented Mr. W. Seymour 
Wliite, who made the welcome address as follows : 

Mr. Mayor of Philadelphia and Gentlemen of the Escort of the 
Liberty Bell: 

It is with a most peculiar pleasure that we greet you and wel- 
come this sacred relic within the boundaries of the Old Dominion. 
It is most fitting that it should rest upon the breast of this great 
old State, for it was the voice of a great Virginian that sounded the 
tocsin of the Eevolution; it was the pen of a great Virginian that 
drafted the Declaration of Independence that was greeted by the 
voice of this bell ; it was the sword of a great Virginian that made 
that declaration an accomplished fact, and it was while tolling the 




The Free Lance— Star Office. 
(See page 227) 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 349 

requiem for the soul of the great Virginian jurist, John Marshall, 
that its voice ever became silent. It is with feelings of heart- 
felt delight that we welcome it within the corporate limits of Fred- 
ericksburg, connected inseparably, as she is, like your own great 
and proud city of Philadelphia, with the events proclaimed in 
that glorious past by that sacred bell ; for it was in Fredericksburg, 
on the 29th of April, 1775, that the first resolutions breathing the 
spirit of the Declaration of Independence were offered; it was in 
Fredericksburg that Hugh Mercer lived, whose ashes rest in your 
beloved soil, in whose defence he died; and in Fredericksburg 
once lived that great American President that gave to all the ages 
the grand doctrine that these United States would never tolerate 
the acquisition of an inch of American soil by any prince, potentate 
or power of Europe. We are glad that this bell is going about the 
land, in the language of your great and good president. Judge 
Thayer, "stirring up everywhere as it goes those memories and 
patriotic impulses that are so inseparably connected with its history, 
and which themselves can never grow mute," and we doubt not 
that this bell, though voiceless now, can still "proclaim liberty 
throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof; and who 
can tell but that as the rolling waves of the blue Mexican Gulf 
thunder upon the shores of the Queen of the Antilles, the proud, 
triumphal progress of the Liberty Bell, they may bear to patriots, 
struggling to be free in that far off land, the sympathy of the great 
hearts of American freemen that yet beat responsive to the efforts 
of those whose love of liberty is stronger than death?" We are 
glad that our men and women may see it, and at the sacred flame 
that burns about its altar replenish the patriotic fire that still is 
trimmed and burning in the hearts of a re-united American people. 
We are glad that our children may see it to learn from its presence 
and history that the dearest heritage left them by their fathers is 
that liberty and independence once proclaimed by this bell. And 
so we bid God speed to the bell which once "rang redress to all 
mankind," as it goes through the land proclaiming to all the na- 
tions of the world that a "government by the people, of the people 
and for the people" has not perished from off the face of the earth, 



250 History of FredericTcshurg , Virginia 

but "still lives the home of liberty and the birth-right of every 
American citizen." 

Mayor Warwick responded in a patriotic and appropriate address, 
after which the guests were driven around town in carriages until 
the time for their departure, when they boarded the train and 
started on their trip South, delighted with their reception in Fred- 
ericksburg. 

A Chinaman who witnessed the demonstration remarked that 
Christians charged his people with idolatry in worshipping the 
dead, because they honored their deceased parents, but a Chinaman 
never worshipped an old bell as he had seen Christian people doing 
on this occasion. 



CHAPTEE XVII 

Visits of Heroes — Gala Days — The Society of the Army of the. 
Potomac Enters Town, &c. 

Fredericksburg has received the visits of many heroes and states- 
men, and on various occasions has been placed on ''dress parade," 
and proved herself equal to the demands made upon her on every 
occasion. Only a few of these visits are mentioned here, but these 
few should be placed upon perpetual record that they may inspire 
our noble youth and the coming generations and cause them to 
appreciate more highly the great blessings transmitted to them 
through the efforts and achievements of those heroes. 

gejst. green visits the town. 

The first we mention is the visit of Major-General Is'athaniel 
Green, on his way from Georgia to his home in New Hampshire at 
the close of the Eevolutionary war. In 1780 the patriot cause 
in Georgia and North Carolina appeared to be lost, in consequence 
of the overwhelming numbers of the British and the ravages of the 
Tories, which brought disaster to our arms. In this condition of 
things Washington recommended that Gen. Nathaniel Green should 
be placed in command, but Congress sent Gen. Gates instead. Be- 
fore leaving for his new field Gen. Gates had an interview with 
Gen. Charles Lee — who was then without a command — in Freder- 
icksburg, when Gen. Lee charged him in parting, "Beware that 
your northern laurels do not change to southern willows." Gen. 
Gates went to his field of operation, met with disaster, and was 
relieved by Gen. Green; and it is worthy of note that Gen. Gates 
left Fredericksburg for his southern command, and Gen. Green 
passed through Fredericksburg when he went down to relieve him. 

Gen. Green was fortunate in having to aid him in his southern 
department such dashing commanders as Gen. Daniel Morgan, of 
Winchester; Col. Wm. Washington, of Stafford, and Col. Henry 
Lee, of Westmoreland county — Gen. Eobert E. Lee's father and 
known as "Light Horse Harry." With these brave men Green 

['251 ] 



352 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

succeeded in driving the British before him and subduing the 
Tories, thus restoring peace and quiet to that panic-stricken people, 
and greatly endearing him to all patriots. In grateful recognition 
of his services the State of Georgia gave him a magnificent farm 
and residence, and on his return from the South to his home, in New 
Hampshire, he met with grand ovations all along the route. He 
passed through Fredericksburg on the 12th of September, 1783. 
A public meeting of the citizens was called, which adopted and 
presented an address to the war-scarred hero. The masses gathered 
to greet him, and the old soldiers, who had just returned home 
from victorious fields, went into ecstasy over him. The following 
is the address of the people of Fredericksburg : 

To the Honorable Major-General Green, Commander-in-Chief of 
the Armies of the United States of America, in the Southern 
Department: 
SiK — We, the inhabitants of the town of Fredericksburg, im- 
pressed with just sentiments of the importance of your singular ser- 
vices rendered our country, as Commander of the Armies of the 
United States in the Southern Department, cannot omit rendering 
you our acknowledgements as a grateful, though small, tribute, so 
justly due to your distinguished character as a soldier, a gentleman 
and friend to American liberty. We lament that the absence of 
the Mayor, and other officers of the corporation, deprives us of the 
opportunity of rendering you this token of gratitude in the style of 
a corporation, but we trust, sir, that your own conscious merit will 
give us credit, when we assure you that we now present you the 
united thanks of this city for your zealous, important and success- 
ful services in recovering the Southern States from our cruel enemy, 
and restoring peace, liberty and safety to so great a part of our 
country. We cannot express, sir, our great joy in seeing you once 
more among us, and language is too faint to paint the contrast in 
the cause of liberty since you passed us to take the command of 
the Southern Army. Permit us, therefore, to pass over the then 
gloomy moment and to participate in the pleasure you now enjoy 
in the possession of the American Laurel, a crown as splendid as 
all the honors of a Eoman Triumph. We also beg leave to follow 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 253 

you with our best wishes into domestic life. May you long enjoy 
uninterrupted, under your vine, all the happiness of that Peace, 
Liberty and Safety, for which you and your gallant officers and 
soldiers have so nobly fought and greatly conquered. We have the 
honor to be with every sentiment of respect, your most obedient and 
very humble servants. Signed by order of the inhabitants. 
Sept. 13, 1783. Charles Mortimer, Chairman. 

To this address Gen. Green responded as follows : 

To the Inhabitants of the City of Fredericksburg : 

Gentlemen — Highly flattered by your address, and no less 
honored by your sentiments, how shall I acknowledge fully your 
generosity in either ! From your hearty welcome to this city and 
your good wishes for my future welfare I feel the overflowings of 
a grateful mind. The noblest reward for the best services is 
the favorable opinion of our fellow citizens. Happy in your as- 
surances, I shall feel myself amply rewarded, if I have but the 
good wishes of my country. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, 
your most obedient, humble servant, 

Sept. 12, 1783. Nathaniel Green. 

GEN. WASHINGTON VISITS HIS MOTHER. 

In December, 1783, General Washington visited Fredericksburg. 
He had just resigned his commission of Commander-in-Chief of 
the American Armies, and as a private citizen had come to visit 
his mother and friends at his old home. He was the uncrowned 
King of America, and was uncrowned only because he refused to 
be crowned. He came with victory upon his brow, and peace and 
liberty for the American people. From mouth to mouth went the 
message — "the great and good Washington is coming." From 
town and country the masses gathered to give him welcome and do 
him honor. The military turned out, the civic societies paraded, 
the cannon boomed and everybody went into raptures over his com- 
ing. The City Council was called together and the following ad- 
dress was adopted, amid the wildest enthusiasm, and presented 
to the grand American: 



254 History of Fredericl'shurg, Virginia 

To Ms Excellency, General Washington, late Commander-in-Chief 
of the Armies of America: 
Sir — While applauding millions were offering you their warmest 
congratulations of the blessings of peace and your safe return from 
the hazards of the field, we, the Mayor and Commonalty of the 
corporation of Fredericksburg, w^ere not wanting in attachment and 
wishes to have joined in public testimonies of our warmest gratitude 
and affection for your long and meritorious services in the cause 
of liberty; a cause, sir, in which, by your examples and exertions, 
with the aid of your gallant army, the virtuous citizens of this 
western world are secured in freedom and independence, and al- 
though you have laid aside your official character, we cannot omit 
this first opportunity you have given us of presenting, with un- 
feigned hearts, our sincere congratulations on your returning in 
safety from the noisy clashing of arms to the walks of domestic 
ease. And it affords us great joy to see you once more at a place 
that claims the honor of your growing infancy, the seat of your 
venerable and amiable parent and worthy relatives. We want lan- 
guage to express the happiness we feel on this occasion, which can- 
not be expressed but by superior acts (if possible) of the divine 
favor. May the great and omnipotent Euler of all human' events, 
who, in blessing America, has conducted you through so many dan- 
gers, continue his favor and protection through the remainder of 
your life in the happy society of an affectionate and grateful peo- 
ple. I have the honor to be, in behalf of the corporation, with 
every sentiment of esteem and respect, your Excellency's most 
humble servant, William McWilliams, Mayor. 

To this beautiful and appropriate address, the noble Washing- 
ton responded as follows : 

To the Worshipful, the Mayor and Commonalty of the Corporation 
of FredericTcshurg : — 
Gentlemen — With the greatest pleasure I receive in the char- 
acter of a private citizen, the honor of your address. To a benevo- 
lent Providence and the fortitude of a Brave and Virtuous army, 
supported by the general exertion of our common country, I stand 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 255 

indebted for the plaudits you now bestow. The reflection, how- 
ever, of having met the congratulating smiles and approbation of 
my fellow citizens for the part I have acted in the cause of Liberty 
and Independence cannot fail of adding pleasure to the other sweets 
of domestic life ; and my sensibility of them is heightened by their 
coming from the respectable inhabitants of the place of my growing 
infancy* and the honorable mention which is made of my revered 
mother, by whose maternal hand (early deprived of a Father,) I 
was led to manhood. For the expressions of personal affection 
and attachment, and for your kind wishes for my future welfare, 
I offer grateful thanks and my sincere prayers for the happiness 
and prosperity of the corporate town of Fredericksburg, 

Go Washington. 

The ceremonies of this gala day were closed with a ball at the 
market-house at night, which is known in history as the "peace 
ball." At the special request of the citizens, Mary, the mother of 
Washington, attended this ball and held a reception in company 
with her illustrious son. She "occupied a slightly elevated position, 
from which she could overlook the floor and see the dancers, and 
among them the kingly figure of the Commander-in-Chief, who 
led a Fredericksburg matron through a minuet." f 

It will be noticed — and the fact will no doubt be treasured with 
pride — that Washington, in his reply to the address on this occasion, 
alludes to Fredericksburg as the place of his "growing infancy," 



* Mayor Robert Lewis, a nephew of Washington, delivered the welcome 
address to Lafayette when he visited Frederielssburg in 1824, in which he said : 
"The presence of the friend of Washington excites the tenderest emotions and 
associations among a people, whose town enjoys the distinguished honor of hav- 
ing been the residence of the Father of His Country during the days of his 
childhood and youth." — P amphlet of Reception of Lafayette at Fredericks- 
burg, page 4. 

"At this place, sir, which calls to our recollection several among the most 
honored names of the Revolutionary war, I did, many years ago, salute the 
first residence of our paternal chief, received the blessing of his venerated 
mother, and of his dear sister, your own respected parent." — Extract of Gen- 
eral Lafayette's reply to the above. 

"The city of Fredericksburg — first residence of Washington — may she more 
and more attain all the prosperity which independence, republicanism and in- 
dustry cannot fail to procure." Sentiment offered by Lafayette at a banquet 
on the above occasion. 

•f Manly's Southern Literature. 



256 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

which shows that, history and tradition to the contrary notwith- 
standing, he grew np in this town, where he was educated, and 
where the hand of that revered mother led him to manhood, and 
the address of Eobt. Lewis, nephew of Washington, to Gen. La- 
fayette makes the same claim. 

GEN. Lafayette's last visit. 

On the 37th day of November, 1834, Gen. Lafayette visited the 
town and remained two days. He was Washington's right arm in 
the Eevolutionary war, and was visiting for the last time the early 
home of Washington, where he took affectionate farewell of Wash- 
ington's mother, in the early part of the year 1783, as he returned 
to France. The General's coming was known some days before- 
hand and a splendid mounted guard of honor was organized in town 
and country, who met him just above the 'Wilderness Tavern." 
At that place hundreds of others joined the procession, including 
the volunteer companies from Fredericksburg, and thus he and 
his party — his son George Washington and Colonel La Vasseur — 
were escorted to town by hundreds of mounted men and men on 
foot, with martial music, amid the grandest display and wildest 
enthusiasm on the part of the people. He received a welcome to 
the town no less cordial and sincere than was accorded to Green 
and Washington, because the liberty, so highly prized and gratefully 
enjoyed by them, was not achieved by Green and Washington with- 
out the aid of Lafayette. A public reception was held during the 
day, when he was welcomed by Mayor Eobert Lewis, Washington's 
nephew, and Lafayette's intimate friend, and thousands shook him 
by the hand and wished him a safe voyage home to his own beloved 
France. 

At night a ball was given in his honor over the present market- 
house, where hundreds gathered to do him honor and contribute 
to his pleasure. The next day being Sunday he visited the Masonic 
Lodge, which was the mother lodge of his "bosom friend," Wash- 
ington, enrolled his name as an honorary member, eulogized Wash- 
ington and attended services at St. George's Episcopal church. 

On the following morning, with the same mounted escort, with 




Entrance to National Cemetery, erected on Willis's Hill, a portion 

of the Marye Heights. 

(See page 190) 




The Superintendent's Ijodge at the National Cemetery, constructed 
of the stone taken from the famous "stone wall." 
(See page 191) 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 257 

music and the booming of cannon, he departed for the Potomac 
river, on his way to the city of Washington, with the best wishes 
and earnest prayers of all the good people of Fredericksburg. 

At the reception at the town hall were Mr. Lafayette Johnston 
and his good wife, Mrs. Eliza Johnston. Mr. Johnston was named 
for Lafayette, and having a son born to them during Lafayette's 
visit in this country, concluded to add a further honor to the 
General by naming their son for him, which they did and notified 
the General of it. Lafayette responded with the following letter, 
which is now framed and in possession of Mr. H. Stuart Johnston, 
a great-grandson: 

Washington, January 6, 1825. 

Dear Sir — I am much obliged to the remembrance of my 
brother soldier when he gave you my name, and am now to thank 
you for an act of kindness of the same nature conferred upon me 
by his son. I beg your consort and yourself to accept my acknow- 
ledgement to you, my blessing upon the boy, and my good wishes 
to the family. Most truly, yours, 

To Fayette Johnston, Esq. Lafayette. 

GEN. ANDREW JACKSON^S VISIT. 

The next hero to visit the town, that we mention, was the "Hero 
of JSTew Orleans," Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, 
who, with most of his cabinet, came on the 7th of May, 1833. The 
occasion was the laying of the corner-stone of the Mary Washington 
monument, which Mr. Silas Burrows proposed to erect to her 
memory. The civic and military display was very imposing and 
the crowd was well up into the thousands. 

Military companies from Washington, Alexandria, Fauquier 
county, and United States marines, and our own military com- 
panies, were in line, under the command of Col. John Bankhead, 
of Wliite Plains, chief marshal. Col. John B. Hill was chief 
architect of the monument. It was a great day in Fredericksburg. 

DEDICATION OF MART "WASHINGTON MONUMENT. 

The next occasion was the dedication of the Mary Washington 
monument, erected by the Ladies' Mary Washington Monument 
17 



258 Hktory of Frederickshurg, Virginia 

Associations, national and local^ on tl:ie lOtli of May, 1894, sixty- 
one years and three days after the laying of the corner-stone of the 
Burrows monument. A more beautiful day could not have dawned 
upon the city, and everything had been well planned and faithfully 
executed for the grand event of the day. 

The streets and houses were beautifully decorated all along the 
route of the march, and the private residences were adorned and 
made gay with national and State flags. It was a general holiday 
for town and country, and it appeared that everybody was present 
and intent upon seeing the dignitaries who were to be here and 
hearing the addresses and ceremonies. Besides hundreds of invited 
guests from different parts of the United States, distinguished 
men and ladies, President Cleveland and nearly the entire cabinet 
and their wives, Vice-President Stevenson and Mrs. Stevenson, 
United States Senators, Eepresentatives in Congress, Governor 
O'Ferrall and his staff, two members of the Supreme Court of the 
United States — Chief Justice Puller and Justice Harlan — were 
present. The crowd was so immense that the ground seemed to 
tremble under their tread. It was the biggest day Fredericksburg 
ever had in the memory of man. 

FREDERIC KSBURGEKS EVERYV^^HERE. 

Fredericksburg has one peculiarity that tradition gives her, which 
is worthy of a place in this sketch, and that is, that in every city of 
any size in the civilized world a native of Fredericksburg, or some 
one who has lived in Fredericksburg, can be found. This is said 
to have been an old saying of tourists, sailors, marines and naval offi- 
cers, who candidly declared that they were always able to find a 
Fredericksburger in every place of any size they had visited. 

Capt. George Minor, who was born and raised in Fredericksburg, 
and who was a captain in the United States navy, and afterwards 
in the Confederate navy, often related this curious fact, and stated 
that it was positively true as to him in all his travels both by land 
and sea. In connection with this singular fact he related this inci- 
dent : Before the Civil war he sailed into the harbor of the city of 
Honolulu, on the Hawaii islands, which have recently become a 



History of FredericThsburg, Virginia 359 

part of the United States. He thoiight of this peculiarity of his 
old home town^ but felt confident that no Fredericksburger could 
be found in Honolulu, situated as it was away out in the Pacific 
ocean. He made his way to the city, and, after some delay, pro- 
cured a guide to conduct him about the place, who could speak 
English. 

As they progressed on their rounds from place to place, the guide 
pointing out places of note, giving an interesting history of the 
place and people, their customs, habits and peculiarities, he found 
himself very much interested in his guide and his narratives, and 
wished to know something of his history. So he asked him : "Are 
you a native of Honolulu !" "ISTo, sir/' was the response of the 
guide. "Well," continued the Captain, "where are you from?" 
"I am from Fredericksburg, Virginia," answered the guide. "I 
learned my trade of printer under Timothy Green, in the Virginia 
Herald office." "I am from Fredericksburg, too, and know Mr. 
Green well," said Capt. Minor, and the two Fredericksburgers had 
a real love feast. After that experience Capt. Minor said he never 
expected to land anywhere that he did not find a Fredericksburg 
man. 

THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC ENTERS TOWN. 

The hospitality of the people of Fredericksburg is as well known 
probably as any other characteristic of her citizens. It has 
been thoroughly tested on many occasions, and has never failed to 
measure up to the demands and even exceeded the expectations of 
the recipients. It is gratifying, too, to be able to say that even our 
former enemies have been partakers of the hospitalities of the town, 
at our private residences and in our public halls, and have found 
language too poor to properly express their gratification of the 
warm welcome and the generous hospitality they received while in 
our midst. This was the case with the Society of the Army of the 
Potomac in May, 1900. 

It had been suggested by some of the prominent citizens of the 
town that it would be a gracious thing, and would testify our kind 
feeling towards the members of that organization, for the City 
Council to invite the Society of the Army of the Potomac to hold 



260 History of FredericJcsburg , Virginia 

its thirty-first annual reunion, in 1900, in the city of Fredericks- 
burg, as guests of the town. The society had never held a reunion 
on southern soil, and it was deemed appropriate that its first meet- 
ing should be here, where they could meet and mingle with Con- 
federate veterans, where so many bloody battles were fought between 
the two great armies of the Civil war. 

It had been intimated that members of the society, and even 
officials of the organization, had expressed a desire to hold a session 
in Fredericksburg, which would give many old soldiers an oppor- 
tunity to visit again the historic grounds, over which they had 
fought, and view the country in times of peace. The City Council 
caught the spirit and approved the suggestion, and on the 27th of 
July, 1899, unanimously passed the following resolution: 

"Eesolved by the Common Council of the city of Fredericksburg, 
Virginia, That his honor, the Mayor, be and he is hereby, author- 
ized and instructed to extend a cordial invitation to the Society of 
the Army of the Potomac to hold its annual meeting for the year 
1900 in this city, and to urge the acceptance of this invitation by 
said society, assuring its members that they will meet with a 
cordial and fraternal welcome by our citizens generally, and that 
every effort will be made on our part to make their sojourn here 
pleasant and agreeable to them." 

While the resolution did not authorize it, it was understood that 
the Mayor would attend the reunion in September of that year, 
either in person or by a representative, and urge the society to 
accept the invitation of the city authorities. Mayor Eowe, being 
unable to attend the meeting of the body, requested Judge James 
B. Sener to represent him, which he did, and presented the 
resolution of the Council in an eloquent and patriotic address, 
which was well received by the society. The result was Judge 
Sener was elected an honorary member of the society and the 
invitation was unanimously accepted. 

Upon the information that its invitation had been accepted, and 
that May 25th and 26th, 1900, were the days fixed for holding 
the reunion, the Council appointed a reception committee of fifteen 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 261 

— five of its own body and ten from the citizens, which was increased 
by the conunittee itself to twenty — to make all the necessary ar- 
rangements and see that the members of the society, and the visi- 
tors on that occasion, were properly received and entertained. 
Those appointed of the Council Avere Col. E. D. Cole, John T. 
Knight, Wm. E. Bradley, H. B. Lane, George W. Wroten. Those 
from the citizens were Capt. S. J. Qninn, Major T. E. Morris, St. 
Geo. E. Fitzhugh, H. F. Crismond, John M. Griffin, Isaac Hirsh, 
James A. Turner, H. H. Wallace, Thos. IST. Brent and James P. 
Corbin. 

The committee met and organized, with Col. E. D. Cole, chair- 
man, and Capt. S. J. Quinn, secretary, and the following gentle- 
men were associated with the committee: Capt. M. B. Eowe, A. 
T. Embrey, Judge John T. Goolrick, Capt. T. McCracken and 
George W. Shepherd. The committee was then divided up into 
sub-committees and assigned to necessaiy and appropriate duties,, 
wdiich were well and faithfully discharged. 

To assist at the banquet and lunch on the occasion, the committee 
requested the services of the following ladies, who responded cheer- 
fully and did so nobly the parts assigned them that they merited^, 
and received, the hearty thanks of the committee and visitors: 
Mrs. James P. Corbin, Miss Mary Harrison Fitzhugh, Mrs. Wm. L. 
Brannan, Miss Mary Shepherd, Mrs. Vivian M. Fleming, Mrs. H. 
Hoomes Johnston, Miss Lula Braxton, Mrs. L. L. Coghill, Mrs. E. 
Dorsey Cole, Miss Corson, Mrs. H. F. Crismond, Miss E. May 
Dickinson, Mrs. Wm. F. Ficklen, Miss Goodwin, Mrs. John T. 
Goolrick, Miss Alice Gordon, Miss Sallie Gravatt, Mrs. John M. 
Griffin, Miss Louise Hamilton, Miss Roberta Hart, Mrs. David 
Hirsh, Mrs. Henry Kaufman, Mrs. Harry B. Lane, Mrs. H. McD. 
Martin, Miss Annie Myer, Miss Eleanor McCracken, Miss Carrie 
Belle Quinn, Mrs. Wm. H. Eichards, Miss Lena Eowe, Mrs. 
Edward J. Smith, Mrs. E. Lee Stoifregen, Miss Bertha Strasburger, 
Miss Sallie Lyle Tapscott, Mrs. W. Seymour AVhite, Miss ISTannie 
Gordon Willis and Mrs. Mary Quinn Hicks. 

The presidential party was met at Quantico by a sub-committee- 
consisting of Hon. H. F. Crismond, Hon. A. T. Embrey, Postmaster 



S62 History of Frederic'ksburg , Virginia 

John M. Griffin, Major T. E. Morris, James A. Turner and S. I. 
Baggett, Jr., and escorted to Fredericksburg. 

At half past ten o'clock on the morning of the 25th of May, most 
of the members of the Society of the Army of the Potomac having 
arrived, the procession was formed at the courthouse, the society, 
under command of Gen. Horatio 0. King, secretary, with the re- 
ception committee. Confederate veterans and citizens generally, 
headed by Bowering's band, proceeded to the depot to meet the 
presidential train. Col. B. D. Cole, chief marshal, with his aides, 
Capt. Dan. M. Lee, John T. Leavell, A. P. Rowe, Jr., and W. J. 
Jacobs, with a cordon of mounted police, had charge of the line. 

At the depot an immense crowd of people had collected, and 
when the train arrived there was a vociferous greeting to the Presi- 
dent and cabinet and Fighting (General) Joe Wheeler. The 
presidential party consisted of President McKinley, his private 
secretary, Cortelyou, Secretary Hay, Secretary Eoot, Attorney- 
General Griggs, Postmaster-General Smith, Secretary Long, Secre- 
tary Hitchcock — every member of the cabinet except Secretary 
Wilson — Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, 
his aide. Col. Michler, Lieut. Robert S. Griffin, secretary to Secre- 
tary Long, Gen. Henry E. Tremain, Gen. W. J. Sewell, Gen. J. 
W. Hawley and Gen. Joseph Wheeler. 

Headed by the celebrated Marine band, of Washington, sixty 
strong, the line of march from the depot was up Main street, to 
George, thence to Princess Ann and thence to the courthouse. All 
along the march the streets were thronged with citizens and visitors, 
and the waving of handkerchiefs and cheering kept the President 
constantly bowing to the right and left. 

When the courthouse was reached the presidential party filed in, 
followed by the Society of the Army of the Potomac, visitors and 
•citizens. The courthouse was densely packed and hundreds were 
turned away, being unable to get even standing room. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

Society of the Army of the Potomac Enters Town, continued. 

When this great crowd entered the courthouse;, after making such 
a long march in hot weather, most of them were willing to rest 
awhile before the exercises commenced. Yet Gen. King is not one 
to rest long when business had to be attended to, so he called the 
large assembly to order, and announced that illness had prevented 
the attendance of Gen. D. McM. Gregg, president of the society, and 
in his absence Gen. Martin T. McMahon would preside in his stead. 
Dr. J. S. Dill, pastor of the Baptist church, was presented and 
offered a most earnest prayer. Mr. St. Geo. R. Fitzhugh, who had 
been selected by the committee of entertainment to extend the 
welcome, was then introduced and made the following address: 

ME. riTZHUGIl's ADDRESS. 

Mr. Chairman" : It is with feelings of profound pride and un- 
feigned pleasure that our entire community extends a cordial and 
hearty welcome to the illustrious Chief Magistrate of our country, 
who honors us with his presence to-day. We recognize in our 
President the pure patriot and the stainless statesman, whose wise 
and courageous administration, in both war and peace, has endeared 
him to the hearts of his countrymen and has shed new lustre upon 
the exalted office which he fills. 

Our peo]3le also welcome with much pride and warmth his emi- 
nent official family, and the brilliant commander of our invincible 
army, and all these distinguished men before me, who are guests of 
the Society of the Army of the Potomac and of our city. 

And now, our friends of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, 
I find it difficult to command adequate words with which to express 
to you the supreme gratification and enthusiasm of our people at 
your prompt acceptance of their invitation to hold your annual 
reunion in this old town and at your presence here to-day in such 
numbers. 

We not only welcome you with open arms and glowing hearts, 

[ 263 ] 



364 History of Fi^ederickshurg, Virginia 

but we feel that this action on your part rises to the dignity of an 
impressive epoch in our national life; and we are not surprised 
that our illustrious President, and all these distinguished men, 
should desire to grace this inspiring occasion with their presence. 

It is the first time that your society has held one of its annual 
reunions on southern soil, and, in making this new departure,, it 
was preeminently fit that you should honor Fredericksburg with 
your choice. 

A French philosopher has written, "Happy the people whose 
annals are tiresome," but the far nobler and more inspiring thought 
of the Anglo-Saxon race is that "character constitutes the true 
strength of nations and historic glory their best inheritance." 

As American citizens you are proud of the grand traditions 
and heroic memories that crowd your country's history; and no- 
where else on this continent could your feet tread on ground more 
hallowed by historic memories than here. 

I think before you leave us you will acknowledge that if the 
immortal names and deeds that this locality suggests should be 
stricken from the annals of time, most of the present school books 
of our country would be valueless and our national history itself 
Avould be as the play of Hamlet, with Hamlet left out. 

The school boys and girls of our whole country are familiar with 
the story of Capt. John Smith and Pocahontas, and history records 
that right here Captain John Smith battled with and repulsed the 
Indians. So we may fairly claim, without the exercise of poetic 
license, that the struggle of the Anglo-Saxon race, to establish its 
civilization and supremacy on this continent, commenced on this 
spot in 1608, just one year after Jamestown was settled. 

If we should draw a circle around this ancient city, with a radius 
of less than fifty miles, we should find within that narrow compass 
the birthplace of George Washington, of Thomas Jefferson, of 
James Madison, of James Monroe, of Zachary Taylor, of Chief- 
Justice John Marshall, of the Lees of the Eevolution, of Patrick 
Henry, of Henry Clay, of Matthew Maury and of Eobert E. Lee. 
If we should extend the circle but a very, very little, it would also 
embrace the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, of John Tyler, 




A Tombstone in St. George's Churchyard, remarkable 
for its date. 
/ (See page 246) 











Confederate Monument in Confederate Cemetery. 
(See page 189) 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 265 

of Winiield Scott, and likewise the birthplace of this Eepublic at 
Yorktown. 

Is there any other similar segment of space on the habitable globe 
so resplendent with stars of the first magnitude ! 

Seven Presidents of the United States and three of the greatest 
military leaders of modern times were born within two hours' ride 
of this city, estimated according to the most improved modern 
methods of travel ! 

That meteoric Mars of naval warfare, John Paul Jones, lived and 
kept store in this town, and went from here to take command of a 
ship of our colonial navy. He was the first man who ever raised 
our flag upon a national ship, and he struck terror to the heart 
of the British navy by his marvellous naval exploits during the 
Eevolution. 

It was right here that Washington's boyhood and youth were 
spent, and that he was trained and disciplined for his transcendent 
career, and it was to the unpretending home of his mother, still 
standing here — which you will visit — that Washington and La- 
fayette came when the war closed, to lay their laurels at her feet ; 
and her ashes repose here, under a beautiful monument, erected 
by the Daughters of the American Eevolution. 

But there are other memories of heroic type, suggested by this 
locality, which come nearer home to our hearts, whose mournful 
splendor time cannot pale ! 

Here, and within fifteen miles of this city, in Spotsylvania county, 
more great armies manoeuvred, more great battles were fought, 
more men were engaged in mortal combat and more officers and 
privates were killed and wounded than in any similar territory in 
the world. More men fell in the battles of this one small county 
during the Civil war than Great Britain has lost in all her wars of 
a century; and more men were killed and wounded in four hours 
at the battle of Predericksburg than Great Britain had lost in killed, 
wounded and prisoners in her eight months' war in South Africa. 

When the fog lifted its curtain from the bleak plains about 
Fredericksburg on the morning of December 13, 1862, the sun 
flashed down on a spectacle of terrible moral sublimity ! 



266 History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 

One hundred thousand Union veterans, with two hundred and 
twenty cannon, were in "battle's magnificently stern array/' and in 
motion, with nothing to obscure their serried ranks from the view 
of their expectant adversaries, safely entrenched on the sloping 
hills adjacent. The different sub-divisions of this great army were 
commanded that day by consummate masters of the art of war, 
whose names and brilliant exploits now illumine the pages of our 
national history, but its commander-in-chief was deficient in both 
strategic and tactical ability, and his most conspicuous merit seemed 
to be his perfect faith in the courage and invincibility of his army. 

General Burnside did not overrate the magnificent courage and 
sublime self-sacrifice of his army, whose contempt of death that day 
on the open plains about Fredericksburg seemed to strike the elec- 
tric chain wherewith we all are bound, and a thrill of admiration 
swept down the line of Lee's army for four miles whilst yet the 
battle raged; but General Burnside did underrate the strength of 
the positions which, without inspection or information, he rashly 
assailed, and he did underrate the valor of the men who held those 
positions. The appalling magnitude of his mistake was soon ap- 
parent, alike to his officers and his men, and yet column after 
column of that devoted army advanced, without a halting step, to 
the carnival of death, over a plain swept by the ceaseless and terri- 
ble fire of protected infantry and artillery — a plain of which 
General E. P. Alexander, in command of the Confederate artillery, 
posted on the heights, remarked the evening before, that "not a 
chicken could live there when his guns were opened." 

ISTo honors awaited the daring of these heroes that day ; no 
despatch could give their names to the plaudits of their admiring 
countrymen, their advance was uncheered by the hope of emolument 
or fame ; their death would be unnoticed, and yet they marched to 
their doom with unblanched cheeks and unfaltering tread. 

Pause a moment and picture those serried ranks as they marched 
undismayed with grim precision and intrepid step to certain death, 
and, very many, to unknown graves, and tell me whether heroism 
did not have its holocaust, and patriotism and courage their grand 
coronation on these plains about Fredericksburg; and tell me 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 267 

M'liether a nation's gratitude and meed of honor to these unknelled, 
uncoffined and unknown heroes, who thus gave up their lives for 
their country, in obedience to orders, should be measured by the 
accident of victory or defeat, or by the unclouded grandeur of the 
sacrifice they cheerfully made. Tell me whether the majestic 
memorial, which that splendid old veteran. General Butterfield, 
proposes to erect on the plains of Fredericksburg, to perpetuate the 
fame of the Fifth corps, will not commemorate a higher type of 
heroism than any similar memorial to that corps on the heights 
about Gettysburg! Tell me whether there was not more courage 
and more manhood required to assail Marye's Heights than to hold 
Cemetery Hill ! 

The charge of Pickett's Division at Gettysburg was far grander, 
even with its dreadful recoil, than was the defence of the stone 
wall at Fredericksburg; and the heroes of the former deserve more 
of their country than do the latter. 

]Srapoleon, after the battle of Austerlitz, addressing his army, 
said : "Soldiers, it will be enough for one of you to say, T was at 
the battle of Austerlitz,' for your countrymen to say, 'There is a 
brave man.' " 

Impartial history will record that the Union soldiers who fought 
at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and at Spotsyl- 
vania Courthouse were not only brave men, but that their valor 
on those immortal fields decorated the Sta:Fs and Stripes with 
imperishable glory. And no American army of the future, com- 
posed of those who wore the blue and the gray, or their descendants, 
will ever permit that glory to be tarnished ! 

It was the brilliant prowess of the Confederate army on the bat- 
tlefields of Spotsylvania that shed such dazzling lustre on the 
Union arms at Gettysburg. If we should blot out the battlefields 
of Spotsylvania, we should rob Gettysburg of all its glory; we 
should filch from General Grant half his fame as a great com- 
mander, and should obscure to the future student of the art of war 
Grant's invincible pertinacity and his sagacious and successful 
policy of concentration and attrition, which alone explains and 
vindicates his famous march of eighty miles from Culpeper Court- 



268 History of Fredericlxshurg , Virginia 

house to Petersburg, with a loss of teus of thousands of his brave 
troops, when he might have transferred his army by transports to 
the shadow of the Confederate capital without the loss of a man. 

Grant knew that the destruction of Lee's army, and not the cap- 
ture of Eichmond, was the profoundest strategy. The Army of the 
Potomac, under the consummate leadership of General Grant, won 
infinitely more prestige at Appomattox, where eight thousand worn- 
out Confederates laid down their arms, than the German army, 
under its gTeat field-marshal, Von Moltke, won at Sedan, where the 
French Emperor, Louis Kapoleon, and 86,000 French soldiers, 
neither footsore nor hungry, surrendered, and for the plain reason 
that no such conflicts as those in Spotsylvania lay across the march 
of Von Moltke to Sedan. The march to Appomattox was over the 
battlefields of Spotsylvania, and Appomattox was only the culmi- 
nation of the courage and carnage of those fields. 

It was the conspicuous characteristic of both the Union and 
Confederate armies that their courage was alike invincible; defeat 
could not quench it; it shone with additional splendor amid the 
gloom of disaster, and no soldier on either side need blush to have 
borne a part in any one of the great battles of the Civil war, 
whatever fortune may have decreed as to its temporary result. 

It is noteworthy, above almost any other events of history, that 
the two most memorable and momentous struggles in which the 
Anglo-Saxon race has embarked, both closed on the soil of Virginia, 
a century apart, by the surrender of one Anglo-Saxon army to an 
army of the same race, and without the loss of prestige on either 
side. 

For our great race, when vanquished by itself, proudly rears its 
crest unconquered and sublime ! 

One of those memorable struggles closed at Yorktown, where 
colonial dependence perished, national independence was secured 
and our great republic born. The other closed at Appomattox, 
where the doctrine of secession and the institution of slavery per- 
ished and a more perfect union than our fathers made was estab- 
lished. 

Secession and slavery perished on Virginia soil, and her people. 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 269 

though impoverished by the loss of the latter, have shed no tears 
over the grave of these dead issues; but they love and cherish the 
memory of the Southern heroes whose sacred ashes repose in her 
bosom, and they proudly spurn any suggestion that such moral 
heroism and sublime self-sacrifice as they exhibited could be born 
of other than conscientious conviction ! 

If the South was, by a wise providence, denied in that grand strug- 
gle the honor of final triumph, her people to-day share equally with 
the victors of that day the glorious fruits of their victory in a more 
perfect and indissoluble union of indestructible States, under that 
superlative symbol of a world-power — the glorious Stars and 
Stripes. 

All through this splendid address Mr. Fitzhugh was vociferously 
applauded, the President and his cabinet heartily and enthusias- 
tically joining in the applause, and when he closed the demon- 
stration was kept up for several minutes. 

Gov. Tyler was then introduced and welcomed the veterans to 
Virginia, and assured them that when their visit to Fredericksburg 
was ended, Richmond, the Capital of the Confederacy, awaited them 
with extended hands and outstretched arms. Gen. McMahon re- 
sponded in a short address, full of harmony and good feeling, and 
introduced Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, the orator of the occasion. 

At the conclusion of the able and patriotic address of Gen. 
Sickles, the presidential party and Gen. Sickles, lunched at Mr. 
Fitzhuglrs and the society and visitors were provided for at the 
Opera House. After lunch the visitors and citizens marched to 
Mr. Fitzhugh's residence, where the President held a reception and 
where several thousand people greeted and shook him by the hand. 

The procession then formed and marched to the National ceme- 
tery, to witness the laying of the corner-stone of the monument to 
be erected by Gen. Daniel Butterfield to the memory of the men of 
the Fifth Army Corps, who fell in the several battles in Fredericks- 
burg and vicinity. 

The Masonic ceremonies were in charge of Lodge No. 4, A. F. 
and A. M. In accepting the invitation to preside on the interesting 
occasion, Gen. Horatio C. King said: 



270 Hktory of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

I deeply appreciate the honor of being asked to preside on this 
most interesting occasion^ and in presence of the honored Chief 
Magistrate and the members of his official family. I recall with 
pride the fact that I first saw the light of Masonry in the Blue 
Lodge at Winchester, in this magnificent State, in 1864, when I 
was a soldier in the great war, and that from that day to this I 
have continued in good standing in our noble order. It may not 
be amiss for me to add that he who honors and graces this occasion 
to-day by his presence, our President, was also initiated at or about 
the same time in the same lodge, and that he has also held fast to 
the tenets of the organization through his lodge at his home in 
Ohio. 

It is most fitting that this dedication should be made by this 
time-honored Fredericksburg Lodge, whose history antedates the 
Eevolution and in whose precincts the Father of his Country was 
enrolled. 

The occasion is one to inspire every patriot, and the generosity 
of Gen. Butterfield, in raising this memorial to the fallen com- 
rades whom he so gallantly commanded, will shine through ages 
to come on the pages of American history. 

MASOITIC CEREMONIES. 

The ceremonies were then conducted by the Masonic Lodge, the 
following officers, members and visitors being present and taking 
part: 

Alvin T. Embrey, senior warden, acting worshipful master; 
Eight Worshipful James P. Corbin, senior warden pro tern; Wm. 
H. Hurkamp, junior warden; Edgar M. Young, Jr., treasurer; 
Eight Worshipful Silvanus J. Quinn, secretary; Maurice Hirsh, 
senior deacon; Allan Eandolph Howard, junior deacon; Eev. 
James Polk Stump, chaplain, and John S. Taliaferro, tiler; Wor- 
shipful Brothers Albert B. Botts, James T. Lowery, Thomas I^. 
Brent, Isaac Hirsh. 

Memhers: Joe M. Goldsmith, John Scott Berry, John E. Ber- 
nard, John C. Melville, Eobert A. Johnson, 0. L. Harris, James 
Eoach, George A. Walker, A. Mason Garner, Wm. T. Dix. Wm. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 271 

Bernard, H. Hoomes Johnston, Charles L. Kalmbach, Edgar 
Mersereau, Adolph Loewenson, George W. Wroten, Joseph H. 
Davis, J. Shirver Woods, Edwin J. Cartright and Maurice B. 
Rowe. 

Visiting Masons : Most Worshipful J. Howard Wayt, P. G. M, 
Staunton, Va. ; Wm. D. Carter, 102, Va. ; W. J. Eord, 163, Ky. ; 
W. C. Stump, 5, D. C. ; B. P. Owens, 14, Va., and Dr. J. W. Bovee, 
of B. B. French, D. C. 

The handsome silver trowel used in laying the corner-stone, was 
made by order of Gen. Butteriield for that occasion and then to be 
presented to the Masonic Lodge performing the service. After the 
service of laying the corner-stone. Gen. Edward Hill, who spoke for 
Gen. Butterfield, in an able address, presented the monument to the 
Secretary of War to be kept, cared for and preserved by him and his 
successors in office, to which Secretary Eoot responded in a brief 
and appropriate speech, accepting the monument and promising to 
preserve it as requested. 

CAMP FIRE AT OPERA HOUSE. 

At 8 o'clock in the evening a "camp fire" was held at the Opera 
House, which was crowded to its utmost capacity. Short addresses 
were made by Gen. McMahon, Gen. Hawley, Gen. Miles, Gen. 
Sewell, Gen. Tremain, Gen. Geo. D. Ruggles, Capt. Patrick, Gen. 
Sickles, and a letter was read from Gen. Shaw, all of whom were 
on the Union side. The Confederate veterans were represented by 
Gen. Joseph Wheeler and Private John T. Goolrick. 

When Gen. Wheeler was introduced. Gen. Hawley, who had 
already spoken, interrupted with "Just a moment. Something 
occurs to me. Among the extraordinary things that are happening 
in the world, this is especially interesting to me. I find, on look- 
ing over the records, that Moses Wheeler, more than 250 years 
ago, married the sister of Joseph Hawley in Connecticut. Now, 
General, go on." 

This produced great laughter, in which Gen. Hawley joined with 
much zest. 



272 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

JUDGE GOOLRICK's ADDRESS. 

Judge Goolrick, who was introduced as the representative of the 
Confederate veterans, and especially the private soldier, of whom 
there are so few at this time, spoke as follows: 

Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen — With sincere sentiments 
of good will, commingled with a sense of gratitude, I welcome you 
within the gates of our city, and no man has a better right to bid 
you come than myself — for, just after the surrender at Appomattox, 
I was sitting on the roadside, weary and worn, foot-sore and hun- 
gry, with an intense solicitude for a change of my bill of fare from 
parched corn, upon which I had luxuriated for about three days, 
when a kind-hearted private soldier of the Army of the Potomac, 
seeing my dejected and depressed appearance, came to me with 
words of cheer, comfort and kindness, and, putting his hand down 
into his not overstocked haversack, gave me all his rations of hard- 
tack and bacon, and immediately the gloom of defeat ceased to be 
so oppressive, and the intense hunger, under which I had labored, 
also ceased. This act of good fellowship, under the conditions 
which confronted me, at once inspired a fraternal feeling for my 
enemy. So you see, Mr. Chairman, I have a real right to be glad 
to see here to-day the representatives of that army of which my 
benefactor was a member, and bid you be of good cheer while you 
pitch your tents once again on the old camp ground. 

You are now on a spot which is consecrated in the hearts of the 
soldiers from the North and the South. Within the sound of 
my voice Meagher's Irish Brigade immortalized itself by a charge 
into the jaws of death, a charge in which the Irishman expressed 
his loyalty to the land of his adoption, and gave evidence of that 
inborn bravery which has made his name illustrious all over the 
world. 

Within this county — at Chancellors ville — the soldiers of the 
South conquered in a battle where death pulsated the very air, 
which was won by unparalleled bravery and matchless strategy, 
though it cost the life of the southland's idolized Stonewall Jack- 
son, the very genius of the war. Here the two master military 




St. Mary's Catholic Church. 

(See page 214) 




Shiloh Baptist Church, Old Site (colored.) 
(See page 215) 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 273 

leaders met for the first time at the Wilderness, where was com- 
menced the march by parallel columns, which culminated in the 
surrender of the Army of iSTorthern Virginia, by our grand old com- 
mander, Lee, to the great and magnanimous Grant. 

On these fields Americanism, in its highest and holiest sense, 
M^as illustrated and illuminated. Here a colossal column of men 
marched to death, testifying thereby the very highest expression 
of patriotism — love of country. For greater love hath no man 
that this, that he lay down his life for his friends. It is to this 
spot you have come — a place which is, and should be, the mecca of 
all lovers of patriotism, self-sacrifice and lofty devotion to duty. 
And these have not been lost, and will not be, for as the blood of 
the martyrs was the seed and the seal of the church, so the blood 
and the bravery of the soldiers of the North and the South have 
already cemented this Eepublic in a closer union. 

There has been a good deal said here, sir, to-day about peace. 
He who fought ceased warfare when the war ended. 'Tis true it 
was waged with great energy by warriors. After Lee told his boys 
to go home, and Grant said, "Let us have peace," these warriors, 
after the war, were like that chaplain in Early's army, who was 
seen going to the rear, while the battle was raging in front. Early 
met him and asked him where he was going. "To the rear — to the 
hospital department," said he. "Wliy not stay in the front?" said 
old Jubal, "for I have heard you urging my men for the last six 
months to prepare to go to heaven, and now you have an oppor- 
tunity to go to heaven yourself, and you are dodging to the rear." 
These men who want war and talk war now had the opportunity 
to take part, but most of them did not feel so inclined when the 
battle raged fast and furious. 

I suppose, sir, however, I was called to talk to-night because I 
am rather an unique and curious living specimen of a soldier, for 
I was a private, and there are few now living. It is said just 
before the surrender a poor old soldier laid down to sleep, and he 
slept a la Eip Van Winkle, for twenty years. Awaking up he 
rubbed his eyes; looking around, he called a man walking on the 
road-side to him. "Where," said the soldier, "is old Marse Bob 
18 



374 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

Lee and his army ?" ''General Lee," replied the man ; why, he has 
been dead many years; he surrendered his army and then died." 
"Ah!" said the private; "ah, then where are all the generals?" 
"They," replied the man, "have been sent to Congress." "And 
what has become of the colonels?" "Why, they have been elected 
to the Legislature." "What about the majors, captains and lieu- 
tenants?" "They have been made sheriffs and clerks and treas- 
urers." "Wliere, then, tell me, where in the world have the pri- 
vates gone ?" "The privates !" answered the man ; "why, they are 
all dead." And the old soldier rolled his eyes back and fell asleep 
again. If he were to awake again to-day his eyes would be glad- 
dened and his heart made happy by monuments erected in Vir- 
ginia's capital city, and elsewhere, to emphasize the love and rever- 
ence with which the memory of the brave private soldiers are held 
by a grateful people. 

Sir, far be it from me to hold in slight estimation or little 
esteem, the illustrious commanders. I am proud of the grand and 
glorious leadership of my great captains, Lee and Jackson, and I 
willingly pay a tribute to the greatness of Grant and to the memory 
of Hancock, "the superb," and the splendid Meade. I would 
not, if I could, attempt to dim the lustre of their names or throw 
any shadow over the brightness of their deeds. 

I was an humble private soldier in the Confederate army, and I 
am proud here to proclaim that I was a follower of the peerless and 
illustrious Lee, but I stand here to pay my loving tribute to the 
private soldier of both armies. His splendid achievements, grand 
heroism, unfaltering loyalty and unflinching bravery, have no 
parallel in all time. He knew that if in the forefront of the fight 
he were shot down that then his name would not be written on the 
scroll of fame, his uncoffined body would find sepulture in a name- 
less grave, and that he would have for an epitaph, "unknown !" 
Only a private shot; and thus the story of his daring and dying 
would be told. 

But, knowing all this, he failed not nor faltered. He was in- 
spired by the very holiest and highest, because of an absolutely 
unselfish sense of duty. He was moved by a purpose to serve his 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 375 

country and its cause. He marched, battled and bivouacked because 
his determination to do, dare and die, if needs be, for the flag under 
which he served. Whether under the sultry sun of summer or 
amidst the sleet and snovt' of winter, he stood, unmoved from his 
unalterable resolve. No grander, no more beautiful, no more 
splendid expression of the very highest type of manhood could be 
found than was found in the life of the private soldier of both or 
either army; and when the war ended, with them verily it ended, 
and they all Joined hands in a fraternity of comradeship which was 
well exhibited by that private soldier of your army who ministered 
to my necessities and cheered me in my sadness as I sat under the 
very shadow of defeat and amidst the gloom of surrender at Appo- 
mattox. 

And members of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, ta 
which that private belonged, and to which we of the Army of 
N^orthern Virginia surrendered, I meet and greet you on your first 
reunion south of the river whose name you bear. We of the South 
will ever cherish, ever pay the homage of our hearts' best devotion 
to the memory of our great cause and its champions, we will ever 
keep them hallowed and sacred, but with us the war is over. We 
pay allegiance and bear full fealty to this great Eepublic of ours, 
and the men and the sons of the men who followed Lee and Jack- 
son stand ready with you to defend, always and everywhere, the 
honor, the integrity and the interest of this fair land of ours against 
all foes, whether from within or without its borders. 

We worship at the same shrine of liberty. There is only one flag 
now. It is our flag and yours. Under its shadow we stand with 
the men of your army. And now, to-night, at this reunion, in this 
presence, let me urge, as the shibboleth, the motto of both armies, 
to be our inspiration in peace, our rallying cry, if needs be, in war, 
this : "Whom God hath joined together let no party, no people 
and no power put asunder." 

Judge Goolrick was heartily applauded during the delivery of his^ 
address, 'and at its close the cheering was loud and prolonged. 

There was no business session of the society the next day and 
very many of the Union veterans visited the various battlefields.. 



276 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

The most of the society and visitors went to Eichmond on an 
excursion tendered the society by Lee Camp, where they were met 
and entertained by the Confederate veterans of that hospitable city. 

Addresses were made on that occasion by Judge D. C. Richardson, 
Mayor Eichard M. Taylor, Gov. Chas. T. O'Perrall and Attorney- 
General A. J. Montague, of Eichmond, and Gen. Horatio C. King, 
of Kew York, and Gen. Geo. D. Euggles, of Washington. 

On the return of the excursionists from Eichmond a reception and 
lunch were tendered them at the Opera House, where they were met 
by a large number of the ladies and gentlemen of the town, and a 
most enjoyable evening was spent. Gen. King, secretary of the 
society, in a brief address, acknowledged the cordial welcome and 
unbounded hospitality they had met with in our town and the 
homes of our citizens, extended the hearty thanks of the society 
to the officials and citizens and stated that the reception was even 
warmer and more cordial than they had ever before met with. 

RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS ADOPTED. 

At the business meeting of the society on the first evening the 
following preamble and resolution, after very complimentary re- 
marks of the town and people, by many of the visitors, were en- 
thusiastically adopted : 

The reunion of the Society of the Army of the Potomac at Fred- 
ericksburg is of peculiar significance, and the generous sentiment 
which prompted the invitation, meets with a hearty response from 
every patriotic soldier of that great army. Every animosity en- 
gendered by the conflict is here buried with the more than one 
hundred and twenty thousand gallant men who shed their blood and 
sacrificed their lives in their heroic devotion to conviction and to 
duty. The work done here is an imperishable record of the unsur- 
passed courage and bravery of the American soldier: therefore 
be it — 

Eesolved, That we tender to the civic authorities and citizens of 
Tredericksburg, and especially to the efficient local executive com- 
mittee and Mr. St. Geo. E. Fitzhugh, our most hearty thanks for a 
welcome that sustains, in the highest, the fame of Virginia hospi- 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 277 

tality. The generous and unstinted courtesies of all will render 
this reunion forever memorable, and the most pleasurable emotion 
will always arise whenever the name of Fredericksburg is men- 
tioned. 

As a fitting sequel of this distinguished gathering and the grand 
reception on the part of the town and citizens, a letter, written 
by Gen. Horatio C. King, twenty-five years secretary of the society, 
en route to his home, in Brooklyn, ISF. Y., is inserted : 

Captain S. J. Quinn, Secretary Army of the Potomac Committee: 

My Dear Captain — The generous efforts of your citizens to kill 
us with kindness were well nigh successful, but happily we survive 
to tell the tale of the most unique and unsurpassed reunion in the 
history of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. 

Our first meeting on the soil of the South cannot fail to have a 
most happy effect upon the comparatively few — mainly born since 
the great conflict — who do not realize that the war ended in 1865. 

The sentiments expressed by your orators, Mr. Fitzhugh. your 
honored Governor Tyler and Judge Goolrick, and by Mayor Taylor, 
ex-Governor O'Ferrall and Attorney- General Montague, in Eich- 
mond, should be printed in letters of gold and circulated all over 
the nation. Purer or more exalted patriotism has never been ex- 
pressed. 

To the thanks already extended I desire to add my personal obli- 
gations for the untiring energy, zeal and efficiency of your local 
committee, which have made my duties comparatively light and 
most enjoyable; and I desire to make my acknowledgments es- 
pecially to you and Brother Corbin for the promptness of your 
correspondence and unremitting attention. 

I am afraid I but feebly conveyed to the audience last evening 
the warm appreciation of the superabundant and delightful lunch 
so gracefully provided by your people and so charmingly distri- 
buted by your ladies. 

Indeed, I cannot find words to express our gratitude for a recep- 
tion so complete as not to have elicited a single complaint or criti- 
cism. We can never forget it or the good people who carried the 
reunion to unqualified success. 



278 Histm-y of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT m'kINLEY. 

Visiting Fredericksburg in May, to attend the meeting of the 
Society of the Army of the Potomac, and take part in laying the 
corner-stone of the Butterfield monument, where he received the 
most marked demonstrations of the love and loyalty of his people, 
without regard to party politics, President McKinley returned to 
our beautiful capital with a grateful heart and a determination to 
show himself President of the entire country, dispensing justice to 
all alike. He was proud of his country and rejoiced in its unpar- 
alleled prosperity. In September, 1901, he visited the exposition at 
Buffalo, N. Y., where, while holding a reception on the 6th of Sep- 
tember, he was assassinated in the midst of the thousands who 
surrounded him. The sad news was flashed by wire throughout 
our land and the civilized world, and was received everywhere 
with unaffected sorrow. 

Our City Council was assembled upon the sorrowful intelligence, 
and the following preamble and resolutions were adopted, and 
telegraphed Mrs. McKinley, which were the first adopted and 
received by her from any quarter : 

"Whereas, we have heard, with great sorrow and indignation, of 
an attempt to assassinate his excellency, Wm. McKinley, President 
of the United States, at Buffalo, N. Y., this afternoon; and, where- 
as, we rejoice to learn by the latest telegram that his physicians 
express the firm belief he will survive the wounds inflicted, there- 
fore — 

Eesolved, by the Mayor and Common Council of the city of Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia, that we condemn, in the strongest language we 
can command, this dastardly and wicked act, and call upon the 
authorities to punish the would-be assassin to the full extent of the 
law. 

2nd, That we tender our profoundest sympathy to Mrs. McKin- 
ley in her great affliction and earnestly pray that a kind and all- 
wise Heavenly Father may restore her devoted husband and our 
much loved Chief Magistrate to perfect health, to her and this 
united and happy country. 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 379 

3rd, That our worthy Mayor be requested to communicate by wire 
this action of the Council to Mrs. McKinley." 

Notwithstanding the best medical skill was employed to remain 
with the stricken President day and night, who endeavored to 
locate and extract the pistol ball, and the prayers of the nation, 
he calmly passed away on the 14th of September, eight days after 
the assassin's deadly work. The monster murderer was an anar- 
chist from Ohio, who was condemned before the courts for his 
wicked act and paid the extreme penalty of the law. 

As the news of the President's death was sent to the world with 
electric speed, and announced in Fredericksburg, the City Council 
was immediately assembled again and the following action taken: 

"The Mayor and Common Council of the city of Fredericksburg 
desire to unite with all the world in paying tribute to the memory 
of President McKinley, as a patriot American, a pure citizen, a 
fearless Executive and a Christian gentleman. 

It is with pride and pleasure that we recall his recent visit to 
our city and his expressions of gratification at being with us, and 
this tribute to his memory is to testify and further emphasize our 
sincere sorrow at his death. It is therefore — 

Resolved, That the public buildings of this city be draped in 
mourning for thirty days; that during the hour of the funeral 
service that the bells of the city be tolled, and that a committee of 
three members of the Council be appointed by the Mayor to confer 
with the ministers of our churches in order to arrange a memorial 
meeting of our citizens, and that these resolutions be spread upon 
the records of this council. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, with our expressions 
of sympathy in this hour of her great bereavement, be forwarded 
to Mrs. McKinley, widow of our distinguished President, signed by 
the Mayor, and attested by the clerk, under the seal of this city. 

This action of the Council was one of the few that Mrs. McKinley 
personally responded to. To it she promptly replied, evincing her 
grateful appreciation, with the tenderest expressions, for the sym- 
pathy tendered to her in her great sorrow. The memorial services 
were held in St. George's church, the day of the funeral, conducted 
by the city pastors. Dr. T. S. Dunaway, delivering the address. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Dr. W other s Exploration — Bacon's Rebellion, so-called — The 
FredericJcshurg Declaration — The Great Orator — Resolutions 
of Separaiion from Great Britain — Virginia Bill of Rights, &c. 

It has been said, probably by the facetious or perhaps by the en- 
vious — for such are to be found in all communities — that Vir- 
ginians are noted for their bragging — that find them where you 
may, at home surrounded by friends and. companions, or abroad 
among strangers and aliens — bragging is their distinguishing char- 
acteristic. It is not probably known whether this charge has ever 
been investigated and passed upon by any competent authority, 
but if it has been, and the charge was pronounced true — or if the 
truth of the charge were admitted by the parties themselves, they 
can plead justification, and should be readily excused upon the 
ground that they really have something to boast of in the patrio- 
tism, endurance, sacrifices and achievements of a glorious ancestry. 
If the people of other parts of the country have whereof to boast, 
Virginians have more, and those in that part of Virginia in which 
Fredericksburg is located may well take the lead. 

In this and the two succeeding chapters we propose to show what 
has been accomplished for this great country by the sons of Vir- 
ginia, who have lived in Fredericksburg and within a radius of 
sixty or seventy-five miles of Fredericksburg, and show that in the 
extension of the borders of our infantile country, in protecting the 
settlers from the ravages of the brutal savages, in agitating, foster- 
ing and demanding the rights of the people, in opposing and resist- 
ing the unjust laws and oppressions, usurpations and unreasonable 
exactions of sordid and wicked rulers, in the separation, by solemn 
resolutions and declarations of this country from Gl-reat Britain, 
in uniting and defending the colonies and in achieving the inde- 
pendence of the country, in forming and administering the govern- 
ment, in numbering it with the family of the nations of the earth, 
and placing it upon the high road to prosperity and national great- 
ness, Virginians were ever in the van, and others followed their 

[ 280 ] 




The present PostofRce Building at Fredericksburg. 



( See pa.o'e 165 i 




^.^'^^■t% 



Tombstone marking grave of William Paul, brother of Commodore 
John Paul Jones, in St. George's burial ground. 
(See page 23?) 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 281 

leadership and reaped the rich fruits of their splendid achievements 
and their glorious victories. And this we do, not in any spirit of 
vanity, but that there may be grouped together and brought to 
public attention, in permanent form, historical facts, if known 
to the public, long forgotten and unappreciated, that Fredericks- 
burg may be placed, where it rightly belongs, as the most historical 
spot in the most historical State in this great nation, that will soon, 
if it does not now, dominate the nations of the earth and fully jus- 
tify her sons in recounting their deeds, if it shall be termed brag- 
ging. 

DK. WALKEE's exploration. 

It was Dr. Thomas Walker, of Albemarle county, a Virginian, 
who, with five companions, in 1750, explored the wild country, 
which now forms tlie States of Tennessee and Kentucky, and 
named that chain of mountains and the beautiful river that flows 
through the valley, Cumberland, in honor of the Duke of Cumber- 
land, and then crossed over the country to the head waters of the 
Kentucky river and gave it its name, which furnished a name for 
that great and prosperous State. 

BACON RESISTS OPPRESSION. 

It was Nathaniel Bacon, of Henrico county, a Virginian, who first 
offered resistance to the colonial authorities in defence of the lives, 
liberties and property of the people and put forth a declaration of 
principles, which were the guiding star for those who came after 
him until independence was achieved, with all of its blessings and 
glorious fruits. 

In his United States History Dr. Howison says : "In the great 
declaration adopted by them in 1776, just one hundred years after 
the movements under Bacon, we find embedded not less than five 
principles among the most weighty and potent that justified the 
overthrow of the English rule, all five of which were in active move- 
ment to produce the uprising of the Virginia people in 1676. 
These five principles were : 

1. The right to civil and religious liberty — 'life, liberty and the 
pursuit of happiness' ; 



283 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

2. The right to throw off a government which had ''cut off their 
trade from all parts of the world' ; 

3. "Which had 'imposed taxes on them without their consent' ; 

4. Which had 'taken away their charters, abolished their most 
valuable laws and altered fundamentally the powers of their govern- 
ment' ; 

5. Which had 'excited domestic insurrections among them and 
had endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of their frontiers the 
merciless Indian savages^ whose known rule of warfare is an undis- 
tinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.' " 

Mrs. An. Cotton, who wrote an account of this Bacon movement 
the year it occurred, and who did not fully endorse all that Bacon 
did, states that a large council was held on Bacon's premises in 
May, at which Bacon charged that the authorities were guilty of 
wrong in their eagerness to get rich; that some persons were rich 
who were guilty of unjust methods in obtaining their wealth ; that 
the authorities were doing nothing to encourage the arts, sciences, 
schools of learning or manufactories; that the Governor approves 
the lawlessness of the Indians against the settlers, and declines to 
interfere because it might diminish his revenue in trading with 
them; that the Governor refuses to admit an Englishman's oath 
against an Indian, where he accepts the bare word of an Indian 
against an Englishman; that the Governor is monopolizing the 
beaver trade in violation of law; that the traders at the heads of 
the rivers, being the Governor's agents, buy and sell the blood of 
their brethren and countrymen by furnishing the Indians with 
powder, shot and firearms contrary to the laws of the colony; and 
that Col. Cowells asserted that the English were bound to protect 
the Indians, even if they had to shed their own blood. 

At the conclusion of Bacon's address the Council agreed to three 
things: 1. To aid with their lives and estates General Bacon in 
the Indian war. 2. To oppose the Governor's designs, if he had 
any, against the prosecution of the war. 3. To protect the General, 
the army and all who agreed to the arrangement against any power 
that should be sent out of England, until it was granted that the 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 283 

country's complaint might be heard against the Governor before the 
King and Parliament. 

The premature death of Bacon occurring, and no competent 
person to take the lead being found, the movement soon ceased, the 
troops disbanded and went home, and many of those who aided 
Bacon in protecting the lives and property of the settlers were put 
to death by Governor Berkley on the charge of treason. Thomas 
Matthews, said to be a son of Gov. Matthews, and who at that time 
represented Stafford county in the House of Burgesses, was ap- 
pointed by Bacon to the command of all the forces in this part of 
Virginia, but he probably had not the courage or means to carry 
out Bacon's plans. 

Bacon died from a cold contracted in camp and was buried in 
Gloucester county, but for fear the authorities would exhume the 
body and subject it to indignities, the place of his burial was kept 
a secret. Bacon's effort for the people was just one hundred years 
before the great revolution, and when we are fully informed as to 
his cause of action we may debate in our minds as to whether 
I^^athaniel Bacon was our first Thomas Jefferson or whether Thomas 
Jefferson was our second Nathaniel Bacon. 

FIRST DECLARATION OF IXDEPENDENCE. 

It was in a public gathering in Fredericksburg on the 29th day 
of April, 1775, that resolutions were passed, approaching in spirit 
a declaration of independence, which was twenty-one days before 
the resolutions of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, were adopted. 
The resolutions, adopted in JSTorth Carolina, found their way into 
print and into the histories, while those passed in Fredericksburg 
did not ; but they were the first adopted anywhere in the country, and 
more than six hundred men were ready to carry them into effect by 
marching to Williamsburg to redress wrongs which had been com- 
mitted by Gov. Dunmore in removing the gun powder from the pub- 
lic magazine. Some regard this act as the beginning of the great 
revolution in the colonies. It was to prepare the people for any 
breach of the law or outrage upon the people's rights, which had been 
threatened by the authorities at Williamsburg, and commenced in 



284 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

the gunpowder act, that the Fredericksburg resolutions were 
adopted, and the great pity is they were not handed down to suc- 
ceeding generations and preserved as the first Declaration of In- 
dependence since the days of Bacon. In referring to these resolu- 
tions. Dr. Howison, in his United States History, says, they were 
tantamount to a declaration of independence. 

HENRY LEADS FOR LIBERTY. 

It was Patrick Henry, of Hanover county, a Virginian, at the 
time living in and representing Louisa county, who fired the 
country with his matchless eloquence and set in motion forces that 
achieved liberty and independence to this country. It was this 
peerless son of Virginia, in the House of Burgesses, surrounded 
by such giant minds as Bland, Pendleton, Lee and Wythe, that 
the torch of liberty was set on fire that was never to be extinguished. 
We quote from Dr. Howison's United States History : 

"He wrote on the blank leaf of an old law-book five resolutions 
which he offered to the House. They were a strong protest against 
the course of Parliament. The third declared that taxation by the 
people themselves, or their representatives duly chosen, was an 
essential characteristic of British freedom. The last resolution 
was in these words : 

" 'Eesolved, therefore, that the General Assembly of this colony 
have the sole right and power to lay taxes and impositions upon 
the inhabitants of this colony; and that every attempt to vest such 
power in any person or persons whatsoever, oth'er than the General 
Assembly aforesaid, has a manifest tendency to destroy British as 
well as American freedom.' 

"A warm debate ensued. Pendleton, Bland, Wythe and Ran- 
dolph all opposed the resolutions ; but Henry was the master mind, 
and made an impression which is felt to this day. His words were 
pregnant with a nation's freedom. In the heat of the debate oc- 
curred a memorable scene. Patrick Henry reached a climax. 
'Cassar,' he cried, 'had his Brutus ; Charles the First, his Cromwell, 
and George the Third' — 'Treason' ! burst f roin the lips of the presi- 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 285 

dent. Treason/ Treason!' resounded through the house. The 
orator paused ; then, raising himself to his full height, with eyes of 
fire and a voice which thrilled every soul, he concluded his sentence, 
'and George the Third may profit by their example. If this be 
treason make the most of it.' 

"The resolutions were adopted by one vote, and that evening 
Patrick Henry left for his home. In March, 1775, the Virginia 
Convention met in St. John's church, Richmond. It was a body 
of the most distinguished men in Virginia, and among them was 
Patrick Henry. He was still far in advance of the leading men of 
the convention, who, although there were English fleets in the 
waters of Virginia and armed soldiers quartered within her towns, 
still hoped that the evils complained of could be remedied by com- 
promise. 

"Henry did not think so, and he was unwilling to sit down 
quietly until it would be too late to prepare for defense. He sub- 
mitted a set of resolutions, calling attention to the presence of 
British armies and the dangers then threatening American freedom, 
and proposed that Virginia should be put in a state of defense, and 
that measures should at once be taken for embodying, arming and 
disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that pur- 
pose." 

The proposition was strongly opposed by such men as Bland, 
Nicholas, Pendleton and Harrison. Dr. Howison says: "It was 
now that Patrick Henry appeared in power. Rising slowly from 
his seat, he made an appeal which in eloquence and strength, and 
in its effect upon the future of the world, went far beyond any 
effort of oratory ever previously made. It was the demonstration 
that the coming war was to be a war of ideas and principles, and 
not a mere war of brute force." No perfect production of this 
speech has been preserved — perhaps none were possible ; yet enough 
has been preserved .to enable the thoughtful student to feel some- 
thing of its inspiration : 

"Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. We have done 
everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now com- 
ing on. We have petitioned — we have . remonstrated — ^we have 



286 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

supplicated — we have prostrated ourselves before the throne and 
have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of 
the Ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; 
our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; 
our supplications have been disregarded, and we have been spurned 
with contempt from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these 
things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. 
There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free — if 
we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for 
which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to 
abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, 
and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the 
object of our contest shall be obtained — we must fight ! I repeat 
it, sir, we must fight ! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts 
is all that is left us. 

"There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, 
and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The 
battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the 
active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were 
base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the con- 
test. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. Our 
chains are forged; their clanking may be heard on the plains of 
Boston. The war is inevitable, and let it come. I repeat it, sir, 
let it come ! 

"Gentlemen may cry, Peace ! peace ! but there is no peace. . The 
war has already begun. The next gale that sweeps from the North 
will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms. Our brethren 
are already in the field. Why stand we here idle ? T\Tiat is it that 
gentlemen wish ? What would they have ? Is life so dear or peace 
so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? 
Forbid it, Almighty God ! I know not what course others may 
take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" 

A dead silence followed this speech. The feelings it excited were 
too deep for applause; but there was no longer any hesitation or 
division of opinion. The proposal of Henry was adopted, and, in 
a short time, Virginia was alive with military preparation. 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 287 

There are two prophesies in this eloquent speech which were ful- 
iilled; one was that the clash of resounding arms would be heard 
by the next gale from the North — the battle of Lexington was 
fought on the 19th of April; and the other was that God would 
raise up friends to fight our battles for us. Our independence 
could hardly have been secured without the aid of the French, 
whom Lafayette led, and who were the friends that were raised up 
for us by a kind Providence. 

Pendleton's resolutions. 

It was Edmund Pendleton, of Sparta, in Caroline county, a 
Virginian, who prepared, and Gary presented, resolutions defining 
the position of the colonies and instructing the Virginia delegation 
to the General Congress to vote for a declaration of separation 
from Great Britain. These resolutions were heartily indorsed by 
the troops that had assembled at Williamsburg, and even by those 
leading Virginians who so strongly condemned Patrick Henry's 
first great speech. 

It was Kichard Henry Lee, of Westmoreland county, a Virginian, 
who offered, in the Colonial Congress, the resolution that embodied 
the views expressed in the Pendleton resolutions, and which brought 
forth the Declaration of Independence. The resolution was sub- 
mitted on the 7th of June, 1776, which was as follows: 

"That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free 
and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance 
to the British Crown; and that all political connection between 
them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dis- 
solved." 

The discussion of this resolution showed the temper of Congress, 
and while the vote was postponed at the instance of some members 
who still thought such a measure premature, a' committee to pre- 
pare and bring forward a declaration was appointed, of which 
Thomas Jefferson was made chairman. Mr. Lee, a member of the 
committee, was called home because of the sickness of his wife, but 
Mr. Jefferson sent him the original copy of the draft and also the 



288 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

amendments for his inspection^ and wrote him : "You will judge 
whether it is the better or worse for the critics." 

GEOEGE mason's BILL OF RIGHTS. 

It was George Mason, of Gunston Hall, a native of Stafford 
county, a Virginian, who wrote the Virginia Bill of Eights and the 
Constitution of Virginia. The fact that Mason was a farmer, and 
not a lawyer, has been emphasized by several writers, and the fact 
that he prepared those important documents, when there were so 
many eminent lawyers associated with him in those stirring times, 
is a matter of surprise. But that he did write them has never 
been disputed or questioned, and it was an honor that linked his 
name with those of Jefferson and Madison, and will enshrine his 
memory in the hearts of his countrymen for all time to come. 
And the honor of preparing this important instrument is en- 
hanced when we remember they were almost original in thought 
as to most of the principles declared in them. It is true that some 
have claimed that the Bill of Eights was based upon the English 
Bill of Eights of 1689, yet that bill only asserted the right of sub- 
jects to petition, the right of Parliament to freedom of debate, the 
right of electors to choose their representatives freely, and other 
minor privileges. These rights had been exercised by the Colonists, 
but there were other rights dear to the people which they had not 
enjoyed and were not permitted to enjoy, and there were grievous 
wrongs committed upon the people that had to cease. 

These things called for a different kind of paper from the 
English Bill of Eights and the times necessitated different demands 
than were made calling forth the bill of 1689. A paper was needed 
setting forth the rights of freemen and providing for the govern- 
ment of freemen, and it is asserted that the Bill of Eights was 
a pattern for the Declaration of Independence, while the Consti- 
tution was the first one that was written for the government of a 
free and independent people in all the past history of the world. 

The Bill of Eights was adopted by the Virginia Convention on 
the 12th of June, 1776, after it had been thoroughly discussed for 
several days. It was written for Virginia and did not apply to 




Public School Building (colored.) 
(See page 144) 




The Butterfield Monument. "In honor of the Fifth Army Corps, 

and also to the valor of every American Soldier. ' ' 

Gen. Butterfield. 

(See page 269) 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 289 

the other colonies, yet it is so complete in all its parts we are told 
that other State constitutions, in defining the rights of the citizen, 
largely followed the phraseology of this famous instrument. All 
Virginians should read it, again and again, study it and treasure 
it as one of the most precious legacies bequeathed to them. The 
following is the bill in full : 

ft 

1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and 

have certain inherent rights of which when they enter into a state 
of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their 
posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means 
of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining 
happiness and safety. 

2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, 
the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and 
at all times amenable to them. 

3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the com- 
mon benefit, protection and security of the people, nation or com- 
munity; of all the various modes and forms of government, 
that is best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree 
of happiness and safety, and is most effectually secured against the 
danger of maladministration ; and that, when any government shall 
be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of 
the community hath an indubitable, unalienable and indefeasible 
right, to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be 
judged most conducive to the public weal. 

4. That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or sepa- 
rate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in con- 
sideration of public services; which, not being descendible, neither 
ought the offices of magistrate, legislator or judge be hereditary. 

5. That the legislative, executive and judicial powers should be 
separate and distinct; and that the members thereof may be re- 
strained from oppression, by feeling and participating in the bur- 
dens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a 
private station, return into that body from whence they were 
originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain 

19 



390 History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 

and regular elections, in which all, or any part of the former mem- 
bers, to be again eligible, or ineligible as the laws shall direct. 

6. That all elections ought to be free; and that all men having 
sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attach- 
ment to, the community have the right of suffrage and cannot be 
taxed or deprived of their property for public uses, without their 
own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound 
by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assented for 
the public good. 

7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, 
by any authority, without the consent of the representatives of the 
people, is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exercised. 

8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions, a man hath the 
right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be con- 
fronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his 
favor and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of 
his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found 
guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; 
that no man be deprived of his liberty, except by the law of the 
land or the judgment of his peers. 

9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive 
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

10. The general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may 
be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a 

"fact committed, or to seize any person not named, or whose 
offence is not particularly described and supported by evidence, 
are grievous and oppressive, and ought not to be granted. 

11. That in . controversies respecting property, and in suits be- 
tween man and man, the ancient trial by jury of twelve men is pre- 
ferable to any other, and ought to be held sacred. 

12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks 
of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments. 

13. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the 
people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural and safe defence of 
a free people; that standing armies, in times of peace, should be 
avoided, as dangerous to liberty ; and that in all cases, the military 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 291 

should be under strict subordination to^ and governed by, the civil 
power. 

14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and 
therefore that no government separate from, or independent of, the 
government of Virginia, ought to be erected or established within 
the limits thereof. 

15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can 
be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, 
moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and by a frequent 
recurrence to fundamental principles. 

16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and 
the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and 
conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are 
equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the 
dictates of conscience ; and that it is the mutual duty of all to prac- 
tise Christian forbearance, love and charitv towards each other. 



CHAPTEE XX 

The Declaration of Separation — The Declaration of Independence 
— Washington Commander-in-Chief — John Paul Jones Raises 
the First Flag — He was First to Raise the Stars and Stripes — 
Fredericksburg Furnishes the Head of the Armies and Navy 
— The Constitution of the United States, &c. 

As stated in the last chapter^ we continue in this references to 
the great deeds of the great men of Virginia that should be grouped, 
as we are here endeavoring to do, in the smallest possible space, 
and preserved to perpetuate their memory and honor their descend- 
ants through all coming time. It was Thomas Jefferson, of Albe- 
marle county, a Virginian, who wrote the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, that struck the shackles of servitude from the people of 
this country, and proclaimed the United Colonies a new-born na- 
tion, free and independent. 

JEFPERSON" AND THE DECLARATION. 

A lineal descendant of Thomas Jefferson, three generations re- 
moved, Judge John E. Mason, thus writes on these subjects, for this 
publication : 

"Some years before the Eevolutionary war, the colony of Virginia 
had become restless under British dominion. There had been, here 
and there, open expressions of discontent, and a growing resent- 
ment, if not positive hostility, against the mother country. In fact, 
nowhere more than in Virginia, and especially in this section, had 
the spirit of independence more steadily grown; and when the 
time came for decision and concert of action by the colonies, public 
opinion here was ripe to break down the old barriers, and to resist, 
with force, the power of England. 

"Among those who had taken a most active part in moulding pub- 
lic sentiment was Thomas Jefferson, who, because of his extreme 
Tiews in antagonizing every element of English ideas, and its gov- 
ernment as based upon an aristocracy, has sometimes been called 

[ 292 ] 



History of Fredericl'sburg, Virginia 293 

the 'Great Commoner.' "\\Tiether he, more than others, who were 
upon the stage of action at that time, is entitled to the name, those 
who know his history must be the judge; but certain it is, he was 
in advance of many of his contemporaries in developing antagonism 
to ancient ideas and ancient customs, which were the pride of the 
British people. 

''On the 6th of jMay, 1716, the delegates from the counties and 
cities of the Colony of Virginia, met in convention at its capi- 
tol in Williamsburg, Edmund Pendleton presiding. During this 
convention certain resolutions were reported from committee by 
Archibald Gary, which were unanimously adopted by the one hun- 
dred and twelve members present. The first of these resolutions — 
said to have been proposed by Thomas Xelson, and drawn as re- 
ported by Edmund Pendleton, but no donbt the work of both — 
after reciting certain grievances against the mother countr}', de- 
clared that the 'delegates appointed to represent the colony in the 
General Congress, be instructed to propose to that respectable body 
to declare the United Colonies free and independent States, 
absolved from all allegiance to or dependence upon the Crown or 
Parliament of Great Britain.' 

"In Congress, on the Tth day of June, 1776, the gifted Eichard 
Henry Lee, from this section, in obedience to instructions, offered 
the same resolution, which had been adopted by the Virginia Con- 
vention — that Congress should 'declare that the United Colonies 
are. and of right ought to be, free and independent States.' This 
resolution was the precursor of the formal declaration. It was 
offered by a Virginian, acting under instructions given by Vir- 
ginians, and its answer was the Declaration of Independence. 

"The debate began on this resolution on the 8th of June, but on 
the 10th, it having developed that five colonies north of the Potomac 
were not ready to vote, the final decision was then postponed until 
the first day of July. In the meantime a committee had been 
elected to draft a Declaration of Independence. Mr. Lee, the 
mover of the above resolution, was unexpectedly called home by the 
illness of his wife, and was not on the committee. The committee' 
was not appointed by the presiding officer, but was elected by ballot 



294 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

by Congress, and Jefferson, having received the highest number of 
votes cast, was its chairman. Its work was completed by the 38th 
of June. The Declaration of Independence was, on that date, re- 
ported to the House by Jefferson, and was then read and ordered to 
lie on the table. The Virginia resolution was carried in the affirm- 
ative, in the Committee of the Whole July 1st. On the 2nd day the 
Declaration of Independence was taken up and debated each day 
until the fourth, when it was adopted. It will be observed that the 
Declaration was completed before Congress had adopted the Vir- 
ginia resolution. 

"The committee, elected to draft the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin 
Pranklin, Eoger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Jeffer- 
son drew the Declaration of Independence at the request of the 
other members of the committee. Had another been its author, 
we believe the Declaration would have been different in tone, 
while, of course, the leading principles would have been the same. 
Many members were conservative, while Jefferson was radical. 
They had in view chiefly independence and freedom; Jefferson 
had the same opinions, but even then contemplated a complete 
revolution in the existing conditions — for anything which, in the 
slightest degree, partook of the nature of the government of Great 
Britain, her customs or traditions, was odious to him. He wished 
an irrevocable change, so that the new Avould supersede the old 
heyond recall. 

"When, in framing that great document, he wrote these words: 
'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created 
-equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalien- 
able rights,' * * * i^ doubtless did not require a prophet to 
tell what his future course would be, or the principles, considered 
radical then, for which he would stand, or the wonderful influence 
'these truths' would have in forming constitutions and shaping 
legislation. State and national, provided the British were beaten on 
the field of battle. 

. "It is worthy of note that the Declaration of Independence, as it 
came from his hands, suffered little change, except in two instances. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 295 

He inserted in the original draft what might be called an emanci- 
pation proclamation — a elause condemning as piratical warfare 
against human nature itself^ the enslaving of Africans — the slave 
trade being then sanctioned by North and South — ^the former being 
carriers and the latter principally buyers — a business which Vir- 
ginia would, years before, have prohibited had she not been met, 
in every effort, by royal vetoes. The other change was made by 
striking out some animadversions upon the English people. This 
was done by those who yet hoped for reconciliation, or something, 
they knew not what, which might avert the desperate struggle. 

"To those who believe in freedom of thought and action; in the 
sovereignty of the people ; in the equality of all men before the law, 
based upon constitutional rights, restrictions and limitations, made 
by the wisdom of the greatest men this world has ever produced; 
in opening the door to promotion to all men whose talents, integrity 
and general high characters entitle them to such honors, the 
Declaration of Independence must forever commend itself; and it 
seems to the writer that upon the strict adherence to the principles, 
therein enunciated, rests the very life of the government of the 
United States. 

"There are many other great things which came from the brain 
of Jefferson besides the Declaration of Independence, though the 
Declaration may have been the basis of all. The principles of the 
Declaration having been once established, these followed as a 
natural sequence. In a limited space only a few can be simply 
noted. After he retired from Congress, in 1776, to become a 
member of the Virginia Legislature, he presented, in the session 
of that year, a bill for the revisal of the laws of the State, which 
was soon passed, and Jefferson, Pendleton, Wythe, George Mason 
and Thomas L. Lee were appointed a committee for revision. 

"This committee of distinguished men met vq. Fredericksburg 
on the 13th day of February, 1777. Here various propositions were 
submitted and discussed — Mason, Wythe and Jefferson almost al- 
ways agreeing and voting together, and Pendleton, of all, being the 
most unwilling to depart from the old conditions, except, to the 
astonishment of the committee, he proposed a new system, that all 



296 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

common law and equity jurisprudence, which had received the sanc- 
tion of ages, should be abrogated — a new institute, after the model 
of Justinian or Bracton, should be reported, thus giving us what 
is called, in this day, a code law, which would have been set afloat, 
without a precedent to guide it, and to construe which, would have 
taken our courts from that time to this. 

"After this committee had agreed on measures and propositions, 
and the general outline of the system to be pursued. Mason and 
Lee, having given the other members the benefit of their advice, 
retired from further participation in its labors, because they were 
not lawyers, and left the work to be done by the other three mem- 
bers, who then divided it, and completed the arduous task in 1779. 

"There were four measures proposed by Jefferson before the full 
committee, then sitting in Fredericksburg, which were his especial 
pride, and these were the repeal of the laws of entail, the abolition 
of primogeniture, the establishment of a system of public education, 
and the act for the establishment of religious freedom. These four 
bills, he himself afterwards said, he 'considered as forming a sys- 
tem by which every fibre would be eradicated of ancient, or future, 
aristocracy, and a foundation laid for a government truly repub- 
lican.' 

"To use his own language again, 'the repeal of the laws of entail 
would prevent the accumulation and perpetuation of wealth in 
select families and preserve the soil of the country from being more 
and more absorbed in mortmain.' 

"JSTot only was the abolition of the laws of entail resisted by some 
of the best talent in Virginia, but when Jefferson proposed to 
abolish also the law of primogeniture — a relic of feudalism — there 
was strong opposition from the same sources — men who had risked 
fortunes and lives in the struggle for independence, but who were 
unwilling to join Jefferson in his attack upon institutions Avhose 
very age commanded veneration. One of the chief opponents of 
Jefferson was Edmund Pendleton, his friend, whose candor, great 
ability and benevolence in all these struggles won his admiration. 

"It was Pendleton, who, when he found the old law could not 
prevail, suggested that the Hebrew principle be adopted, by which 




Th9 Old PI inters' Hotel. The stone in front was used as a 

"stand" for slaves when hired or sold 

at public "outcry." 

( See page 1 6."i ) 




The Opera House. It occupies the ground of the bank and 

other buildings burnt at the bombardment, 

December II, 1862. 

(See page 269) 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 297 

the eldest son should inherit double the amount of real estate which 
would descend to the heirs of the ancestor. The reply of Jefferson 
was characteristic and terse — 'I observed/ he says^ 'that if the 
eldest son could eat twice as much and do double work, it might 
be a natural evidence of his right to a double portion; but being 
on a par^ in his powers and wants, with his brothers and sisters, 
he should be on a par also in the partition of the patrimony.' 

"The statute of descents in Virginia was drawn by him — a statute 
which has justice and 'natural right' in every line, and so clear 
and perspicuous is it, that in all these years only one serious ques- 
tion has been raised regarding it, calling for a decision of the 
Supreme Court of Appeals. 

"Jefferson gave an impetus to public education which is felt at 
this time. He proposed to the General Assembly of Virginia three 
bills : the first, establishing elementary free schools for all children ; 
the second, for colleges; and the third, for the highest grade of 
sciences. Only the first of these was passed by the Assembly, and 
before this was done it was so amended that it could not be opera- 
tive unless the county courts so decided. Now, as the justices who 
presided over these courts, while among the most honorable and 
talented men in Virginia, were generally of a class who did not care 
to bear the taxes necessarily entailed upon them by the adoption 
of the system, no free schools were established in any county within 
the Commonwealth under this act, with possibly the exception of 
one county. 

"It was a fact that our ancestors, especially when under the 
English system of government, did not favor education at public 
expense, and the royal Governors, as a rule, threw the weight of 
their influence against it. Bat after the Eevolutionary war had 
closed, and the government of the States was made a government by 
the people, Virginians, like Jefferson, proceeded on the theory that 
to have a good government, the people — the sovereigns — must be 
educated, so that they would take, not only a deeper interest in the 
affairs of State, but would do so with intelligence — the more know- 
ledge disseminated the better would be the government, and the 
less danger there would be of its falling into the hands of a favored 
and exclusive class. 



298 History of FredericTcshurg, Virginia 

"The principle of free education, however, so earnestly forced to 
the front by Jefferson, eventually bore fruit, though the ripening 
was slow. It was gradually adopted by the people of Virginia, 
until now a system, backed by a sound public sentiment, is estab- 
lished in every county and city in the State, and the doors of the 
colleges are open to those who have not been favored with fortune. 
It may be safely predicted that when the State shall have fully 
recovered from the wreck and havoc of the Civil war, that a com- 
plete and thorough system will be established, such as that which 
was first proposed by Jefferson, and the people of the State will re- 
joice to see it done. 

"'So more important measure was proposed to the committee 
which met in Fredericksburg, on the 13th of January, 1777, than 
that of Jefferson's for the establishment of religious freedom, just 
as it now appears, with slight modifications in the preamble, in 
the statute books to-day. The fact that this act was written in 
Fredericksburg, we have never heard questioned ; and the people of 
this city have the same right to claim that this 'second declaration' 
had its birth here, that the people of Philadelphia have to claim 
that city as the birth-place of the first. It was, however, a long 
time before its advocates were able to secure its passage by the 
Legislature. Having been written in 1777, it did not become the 
law of the land until 1785. 

"In making his fight for religious freedom, the courage, the 
persistence and the power of this statesman shone in all their 
splendor. We consider this as his most difficult task, but it is his 
crowning glory. He had arrayed against him the advocates of 
a long cherished policy, sustained by law; one around which tradi- 
tion had woven a peculiar sanctity, and he who would lift his hand 
against it was deemed guilty of sacrilege. There, too, were the 
clergy, strong in resistance, backed, as they were, by a wealthy and 
powerful class, Jefferson himself belonging to a family whose mem- 
bers, though loyal in exacting faithful obedience to changes in 
existing conditions, loved this church and worshipped in its sacred, 
but State protected walls ; yet, in spite of all of this, believing that 
freedom of conscience was one of the 'inalienable and natural 



History of FredericTcsburg, Virginia 399 

rights/ with a boldness, which all must commend; with a persis- 
tence, which all must admire, he headed the forces which took the 
last citadels of monarchial institutions and leveled them to the 
ground, thus forever separating church and State and eliminating 
the combination of political policy and religion, so that henceforth 
no man could be 'compelled to frequent or support any religious 
worship, place or ministry, but all men shall be free to profess, and 
by argument maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and 
the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or effect their civil 
capacity.' 

"In justice to those who were adherents to the established church, 
it miTst be said that some supported Jefferson, and after the change 
came, none were more devoted in maintaining the statute, and all 
others of kindred import; many being in positions charged with 
their proper enforcement, gave them sound judicial interpreta- 
tion in exact conformity to all theories of the newly formed gov- 
ernment. 

"This act for the establishment of religious freedom is not only 
a monument to him, as a liberator of men, but its elegant diction, 
its easy and smoothly flowing style, show his genius as a writer. It 
is worthy of note, its preamble contains over five hundred words, 
yet it is but one sentence ; only finished in the body of the act itself, 
where the first period appears ; and, although he says this preamble 
was somewhat mutilated by others, there is nothing doubtful or 
uncertain as to its meaning, purpose and scope. 

"To do full justice to the subject in hand would require a volume, 
but we must content ourselves with what has been written to show 
in part the wonderful and rapid changes then made in old and 
settled conditions, and the powerful influence this section had in 
moulding a government based on 'natural rights and justice,' and 
in shaping its destinies." 

WASHINGTON GAINS INDEPENDENCE. 

It was George Washington, a native of Westmoreland county, 
raised in Fredericskburg, who led the American armies in the 
Eevolutionarv' war and gained American independence. He Avas 



300 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

called the "Great and Good Washington." He was truly great. 
He was great in the eyes of Americans ; he was great in the eyes of 
his opposing enemies; he was great in the eyes of the world. He 
was an uncrowned king, because he refused to be crowned. We 
cannot properly appreciate his greatness, because he was so great 
we have no one to compare him with. 

It is said a famous scholar has written a long essay in which he 
argued that the "traditional Washington" must give place to the 
new Washington. Referring to this, Senator Lodge says : "This 
is true in one sense. A new idea of AVashington comes up in the 
mind of each generation, as it learns the story of the father of this 
country; but in' another sense, the idea of a new Washington is 
wrong. He cannot be discovered anew, because there never was but 
one Washington." 

As to the esteem in which Washington is held all over the world, 
Senator Lodge says : "Even Englishmen, the most unsparing critics 
of us, have done homage to AVashington from the time of Byron 
and Pox to the present day. France has always revered his name. 
In distant lands, people who have hardly heard of the United 
States know the name of Washington. Nothing could better show 
the regard of the world for this great giver of liberty to the people 
than the way in which contributions came from all nations to his 
monument in Washington. There are stones from Greece, frag- 
ments of the Parthenon. There are stones from Brazil, Turkey, 
Japan, Switzerland, Siam and India. In sending her tribute, 
China said: 'In devising plans, Washington was more decided 
than Ching Shing or Woo Kwang; in winning a country, he was 
braver than Tsau Tsau or Ling Po. Wielding his four-footed 
falchion, he extended the frontiers, and refused to accept the royal 
dignity. The sentiments of the three dynasties have reappeared in 
him. Can any man of ancient or modern times fail to pronounce 
Washington peerless?' These comparisons, which are so strange 
to our ears, and which sound stranger still when used in comparison 
with Washington, show that his name has reached further than we 
can comprehend." 

Speaking of the Declaration of Independence, Maury says : 



History of Frederichshurg , Virginia 301 

"From beginning to end it was the work of Virginia. A Virginia 
planter (Mason) conceived it; a Virginia lawyer (Jefferson) 
drafted it; and a Virginia soldier (Washington) defended it and 
made it a living reality." 

FIRST FLAG RAISED BY JOHN PAUL JONES. 

It was John Paul Jones, a Fredericksburg man, who raised the 
first flag over our infant navy, and the first to throw our National 
flag — the Stars and Stripes — to the breeze of heaven. The ISTa- 
tional Portrait Gallery, volume 1, giving a short sketch of Jones's 
life, says : "On the organization of the infant navy of the United 
States, in 1775, John Paul Jones received the appointment of first 
of the first lieutenants in the service, in which, in his station on 
the flag-ship Alfred, he claimed the honor of being the foremost 
on the approach of the Commander-in-Chief, Commodore Hopkins, 
to raise the new American flag. This was the old device of a rattle- 
snake coiled on a yellow ground, with the motto, 'Don't tread on 
me,' which is yet partially retained in the seal of the war-office. 
* * * By the resolution of June 14, 1777, he was appointed 
to the Eanger, newly built at Portsmouth — a second instance of the 
• kind — ^had the honor of hoisting for the first time the new flag of 
the Stars and Stripes." 

HEADS OF THE ARMY AND NAVY. 

It was Fredericksburg that gave to the country the head of the 
armies of the United States in the great war for independence, in 
the person of the peerless Washington, and also furnished the great- 
est naval commander of that war in the person of the dauntless 
John Paul Jones. In addition to Washington, the small town of 
Fredericksburg sent to the field during the great Revolution five 
other generals — Gen. Hugh Mercer, Gen. George Weedon, Gen. 
Wm. Woodford, Gen. Thomas Posey and Gen. Gustavus B. Wal- 
lace, besides many officers of the line of high rank. 

MADISON THE FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION. 

It was James Madison, of Orange county, a Virginian, born a few 
miles below Fredericksburg, at Port Conway, in King George 



302 History of Frederichsburg , Virginia 

county, who gave that wonderful instrument, the Constitution of 
the United States, to the country, that has been described as the 
"grand palladium of our liberty, the golden chain of our union, 
the broad banner of freemen, a terror to tyrants and a shining light 
to patriots." 

Hon. James D. Richardson, of Tennessee, in his great work of 
compiling the messages and papers of the Presidents, with short 
biographical sketches of each, after recounting the labors, works 
and achievements of Mr. Madison, says : "It was not for these 
things or any of them his fame is to endure. His act and policy 
in the framing of the marvellous instrument, the constitution of our 
country, his matchless advocacy of it with his voice and pen, and 
his adherence to its provisions at all times and in all exigencies, 
obtained for him the proudest title ever bestowed upon a man, the 
title of the 'Father of the Constitution.' It is for this 'act and 
policy' he will be remembered by posterity." 

JUDGE WALLACE ON THE CONSTITUTION". 

Hon. A. Wellington Wallace, at one time Judge of the Corpora- 
tion Court of Fredericksburg, contributes for this work the follow- 
ing paper on the Constitution of the United States : 

"ISTo historical sketch of Fredericksburg and its locality 
would be complete without at least an epitome of the constitu- 
tional form of government of the United States; for within a 
radius of seventy-five miles from Fredericksburg were reared the 
leading men who inspired the Federal Constitution. There are 
few, if any, similar areas in magnitude that can furnish, in one 
epoch of time, such a splendid galaxy of names. George Washing- 
ton, Richard Henry Lee, James Madison, Patrick Henry, John 
Blair, George Wythe, Edmund Randolph, and George Mason, the 
deputies appointed by Virginia to frame the Federal Constitution, 
were natives of this territory. 

"The inspiration given to the men of the age when our constitu- 
tion was framed, was a wonder to the world. ISTo nation had ever at- 
tempted by a written paper to provide a fundamental basis for 
government to last for all time and to provide for every emergency 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 303 

which might arise. The British Constitution, which had been 
the maternal chart of government before the Eevolution, was a 
collective name for the principles of public policy on which the 
government of the United Kingdom was based. It was not formu- 
lated in any document, but the gradual development of the poli- 
tical intelligence of the English people, resulting from concessions 
from the Crown, successive revolutions, numerous enactments of 
Parliament and from the established principles of the common 
law. But here in this new country, by young men, born in the 
territory around Fredericksburg, was inaugurated a departure from 
the traditions of our ancestors to govern by a written fundamental 
law, a nation, whose progress thereunder has been phenomenal and 
has been, and will ever be, a continuing cause of astonishment to 
the civilized world. 

"As has been stated in this chapter, the Constitution of Vir- 
ginia, of 1777, drawn by George Mason, was the first written 
constitution. Subsequentl}^, the several colonies that revolted 
against Great Britain, entered into written articles of confederation 
for the common defense and for government in time of war, but 
when the independence of the United States had been recognized 
by Great Britain, these articles of confederation were found totally 
inadequate for the powers of government. 

"The power of making war, peace and treaties, of levying money 
and regulating commerce and the corresponding Judicial and exe- 
cutive authorities, were not fully and effectually vested in the 
Federal Union ; so it became necessary that the freed colonies should 
either become weak, independent sovereignties, or should be bound 
together by stronger obligations, and, that for the general welfare, 
the separate sovereignties should surrender certain rights and pow- 
ers to central control. With a view to this object, on the 21st day 
of January, 1786, a resolution passed the Legislature of Virginia 
for the appointment of five commissioners, any three of whom 
might act, to meet similar commissioners from other States of the 
Union; and, under this resolution, the commissioners appointed 
fixed the first meeting in September following as the time, and 
the city of Annapolis, Maryland, as the place of meeting. 



304 History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 

"Edmund Eandolph, James Madison and Saint George Tucker 
attended^ representing Virginia, and, as a result of this conference 
a convention was called of all the States, to be held in Philadelphia, 
on the 35th day of May, 1787, and to that convention Virginia 
sent the deputies mentioned before in this paper, and, of these 
deputies, George Washington was chosen president of the assembled 
body. An extended account of the proceedings of that convention 
would be inappropriate in this brief narration. It is sufficient 
to state that the convention adjourned, having completed its work 
on the 17th day of September, following its meeting, and that while 
all the Virginia delegates assisted in the work of the convention, 
only three of the delegates, George Washington, James Madison 
and James Blair, signed the Constitution. ; 

"The Constitution went into effect on the 4th day of March, 1789, 
although George Washington, the first President of the United 
States under it, was not inaugurated until the 13th day of April« — 
eleven of the thirteen States having ratified it, the others, E'orth 
Carolina and Rhode Island, not ratifying, the former until JSTovem- 
ber 21, 1789, and the latter until May 29, 1790. 

"The Constitution is a document comprised in seven original 
articles and fifteen amendments. Of the original articles the first 
deals with the legislative body, prescribing the mode of election to 
the House of Representatives and the Senate, the qualifications of 
members, the method by which bills shall be passed, and those sub- 
jects on which Congress shall be qualified to act. The second re- 
lates to the Executive Department, prescribing the method of elec- 
tion and qualifications and duties of the President. The third re- 
lates to the Judicial Department, providing for the Supreme Court 
and such other inferior courts as Congress may think necessary. 
The fourth deals with the relations of the Federal Government 
and the separate States, and provides for the admission of new 
States. The fifth relates to the power and method of amendments 
to the Constitution; the sixth to the IsTational Supremacy, and the 
seventh to the establishment of the government upon the ratifica- 
tion of the Constitution by nine of the States. 

"The amendments, according to one of the methods provided, 




Shiloh Baptist Church, New Site (colored.) 
(See page 215) 




The Church of God and Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ 

(colored.) 

(See page 216) 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 305 

were proposed by Congress and ratified by the States. The first 
twelve were submitted under acts passed in 1789, 1790, 1793 and 
1803, and the last three after the Civil war, under acts of 1865, 
1868 and 1870. The most important of the amendments are the 
twelfth, which changed the method of electing the President and 
Vice-President to the existing method; the thirteenth, which 
abolishes slavery ; the fourteenth, which disqualifies any one who has 
been engaged in rebellion against the government from holding 
office, unless his disqualification has been removed by Congress, and 
prevents the assumption and payment of any debt incurred in aid 
of rebellion; and the fifteenth, which prohibits the denial to any 
one the right to vote because of race, color or previous condition of 
servitude. 

'"'This is an epitome of the Constitution of the United States, by 
virtue of which the government has been maintained to the present 
time; and the principles laid down therein were, to a very large 
extent, the suggestions of the men we have mentioned from the 
locality of Fredericksburg. The Eepublic based upon this Consti- 
tution was an experiment, but it has, for more than a century, 
withstood the most terrific shocks of the most troublous times. It 
has waged foreign wars successfully; wild party spirit has always 
been foiled in efforts to undermine it; the bloodiest internecine 
strife in the world's history, sustained on both sides by unsurpassed 
valor, has but cemented its strength and prosperity at home and its 
power and prestige abroad; from thirteen small, feeble colonies, 
it has become a great nation of nearly eighty millions of people, 
its domain not only spreading from ocean to ocean, but extending 
far over the seas, and the protecting asgis of the Constitution, and 
the laws passed thereunder, guarding every race from every clime. 

"No more splendid apostrophe to the Constitution could be added 
than the tribute of Mr. Gladstone, of England, the ablest advocate 
of human rights the century just closed has produced, when he 
said, in substance, that it was the grandest and greatest compendium 
of principles that had ever emanated from the brain, or been writ- 
ten down by the pen, of man." 
20 



CHAPTER XXI 

The First Proclamation for Public Thanksgiving — Pennsylvania 
Whiskey Rebellion — John Marshall and the Supreme Court- 
Religious Liberty — The Monroe Doctrine — Seven Presidents — 
Clarice Saves the Great Northwest — The Northwest Explored— 
Louisiana Purchase — Texas Acquired — Mexico Adds to Our 
Territory — The Oceans Measured, Sounded and Mapped — 
The Ladies' Memorial Association — The Mary Washington 
Monument, &c. 

This chapter is taken up with a continuation and conclusion of 
the subjects of the last two chapters — that is, a brief reference to 
what has been accomplished for the country by the giant minds, and 
through the dangerous and daring exploits of the men who lived in 
Fredericksburg and within a radius of seventy-five miles of Fred- 
ericksburg; therefore no farther introduction to the chapter is 
necessary. 

FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION. 

It was Eichard Henry Lee, of Westmoreland county, a Virginian, 
styled the Cicero of America, who wrote the first proclamation for 
public thanksgiving in this country. Congress, with the govern- 
ment, had moved from Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, where it had 
gone for safety, to York, in the same State, then containing about 
1,500 inhabitants. At that time the chief cities in the country 
were in the hands of the enemy, except Richmond and Savannah, 
and the American army — again defeated at Germantown — retreat- 
ing before a victorious enemy. Congress had been in session for 
nine months in York in the years 1777 and 1778, and while there 
heard the news of the surrender of Burgoyne, adopted the Articles 
of Confederation, received the news from Benjamin Franklin at 
Paris of the decision of the French government to aid the Ameri- 
cans in their struggle for liberty, and issued the first national 
thanksgiving proclamation. 

The President of Congress appointed Richard Henry Lee, of 

306 ] 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 307 

Virginia, with Samuel Adams, of Massachusetts, and Gen. Eober- 
deau, of Pennsylvania, to draft the proclamation. It was written 
by Mr. Lee, and for its beauty and comprehensiveness, and being 
the first paper of the kind ever prepared and issued by authority in 
this country, it will, we are sure, be regarded with interest and 
veneration. It is as follows : 

"For inasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore 
the superintending providence of Almighty God, to acknowledge, 
with gratitude, their obligations for benefits received, and to im- 
plore such further blessings as they stand in need of; and it having 
pleased him, in his abundant mercy, not only to continue to us the 
many blessings of his common providence, but also to smile upon us 
in the prosecution of just and necessary war, for the defence and 
establishment of our rights and liberties; particularly that he has 
been pleased, in so great a measure, to prosper the means used for 
the support of our troops and to crown our arms with signal success. 

''It is, therefore, recommended to the legislatures, or executives, 
powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th of 
December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise ; that with one 
heart and one voice the people of this country may express their 
grateful reverence, and consecrate themselves to the service of their 
divine benefactor, and that together, with their sincere acknowledg- 
ments, they may join in a penitent confession of their manifold 
sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and 
earnest supplication may be that it may please God, through the 
merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of 
remembrance ; that it may please him graciously to shower his bless- 
ings on the government of these States, respectively, and to prosper 
the public council of the whole United States ; to inspire our com- 
manders, both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wis- 
dom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under 
the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States 
the greatest of all blessings — independence and peace; that it may 
please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people, 
and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its in- 
crease; to protect schools and seminaries of learning, so necessary 



308 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under 
his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the 
promotion and enlargement of the kingdom which consists of right- 
eousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

"It is further recommended that all servile labor and such recrea- 
tion as at other times innocent may be unbecoming the purpose of 
this appointment on so solemn an occasion." 

This historic document was adopted by Congress on the 30th of 
October, 1777, and sent to the governors of the respective States on 
the 1st of November by the President of the Congress, Henry 
Lawrens, of South Carolina, who had Just been elected to fill the 
vacancy caused by the resignation of John Hancock, of Massachu- 
setts. 

THE W^HISKEY REBELLION. 

It was Henry Lee, of Westmoreland county, a Virginian, known 
through the war for independence as "Light Horse Harry," who, in 
1792, crushed out the Whiskey Eebellion in Pennsylvania and re- 
stored order to the four counties in rebellion. He was at the time 
Governor of Virginia, and was in command of 15,000 troops, raised 
by special requisition of President Washington from the States of 
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. It was this 
Henry Lee who delivered the funeral oration in Congress on 
Washington, in which he used those words which will last in history 
as long as the memory of Washington shall be revered, "He was first 
in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." 

CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL AND SUPREME COURT. 

It was John Marshall, of Fauquier county, a Virginian, who, by 
his great ability and firmness of character, brought the Supreme 
Court up from a tribunal of little importance and consequence to 
one of great dignity and to one equal in power and importance with 
the executive and legislative branches of the government. He did 
more — he established not only the fact that the Supreme Court was 
the proper tribunal to declare what was and what was not law, 
under the Constitution, but it was to set limits to the powers and 
prerogatives of the chief executive himself. 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 309 

In an address on the Supreme Court by Justice Brown in 189G, 
he said: "The Constitution had been adopted by the vote of the 
thirteen States of the Union^ but its construction was a work 
scarcely less important than its original creation. With a large 
liberty of choice, guided by no precedents, and generally unham- 
pered by his colleagues upon the bench, the great Chief Justice 
(Marshall) determined what was law by what he thought it ought to 
be, evolved from his own experience of the defects of the Articles 
of Confederation and from an innate consciousness of what the 
country required, a theory of construction which time has vindi- 
cated and the popular sentiment of succeeding generations has 
approved. In the case of Marbury against Madison, which arose 
at his very first term, he declared the judicial power to extend to 
the annulment of an act of Congress in conflict with the Constitu- 
tion, a doctrine peculiar to this country, but so commending itself 
to the common sense of justice as to have been incorporated in 
the jurisprudence of every State in the Union. The lack of this 
check upon the action of the Legislature has wrecked the constitu- 
tion of many a foreign State, and it is safe to say that our own 
would not have long survived a contrary decision. Had Marshall 
rendered no other service to the country, this of itself wovild have 
been sufficient to entitle him to its gratitude." And Judge A. W. 
Wallace, writing of Justice Marshall, said : "By his canons of con- 
struction he fortified the foundations of the Constitution and 
builded thereon the jurispudence of the United States — whose 
opinions, nearly a century old, stand, like a great sea-wall, breast- 
ing every billow of political frenzy that has threatened to engulf 
the safety, permanence and perpetuity of our institutions.'^ 

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. 

It was Thomas Jefferson, of Albemarle county, a A^irginian, who 
wrote the act of the General Assembly of A^irginia, passed on the 
26th day of December, 1785, establishing religious liberty in Vir- 
ginia, which has been adopted, or a law of similar import, by every 
State in the United States, and made a part of the Constitution of 
the United States, by the first amendment made to that instrument. 



310 Historif of Fredericlsburg, Virginia 

It is one of the grandest achievements of Mr. Jefferson, and stamps 
him as a patriot who could and did rise superior to his environ- 
ments and surroundings, and even his predilections and life-long 
attachments, and secure to the people, by a law which he expressed 
the hope would never be repealed, their rights in matters of con- 
science as to religion and the worship of their God. It has per- 
meated this whole country, and its influence is felt more or less 
throughout Christendom, and as a little leaven will leaven the whole 
lump, so its influence is still at work and time only can tell what 
it shall accomplish. 

The act was written in Fredericksburg, and, omitting the long 
preamble, which is written in Mr. Jefferson's best and most vigor- 
ous style, is as follows : "That no man shall be compelled to fre- 
quent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatso- 
ever, nor shall be inforced, restrained, molested or burthened, in 
his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his re- 
ligious opinions or belief ; but that all men shall be free to profess, 
and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, 
and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their 
civil capacities." 

THE MONROE DOCTRINE. 

It was James Monroe, a native of Westmoreland county, but for 
years a citizen of Fredericksburg, a Virginian, who announced the 
American principle, known as the "Monroe Doctrine" that declared 
that no foreign power should acquire territory on this continent, 
Mdiich has been the guiding principle of the United States govern- 
ment since its enunciation, and which has been the safeguard to 
all the governments of this hemisphere. 

The Monroe doctrine and the causes that called it forth, are 
succinctly stated in volume 10 of the "Messages and Papers of the 
Presidents," and are as follows: "After the overthrow of ISTapo- 
leon, France, Eussia, Prussia and Austria formed the so-called 
Holy Alliance in September, 1815, for the suppression of revolu- 
tions within each other's dominions and for perpetuating peace. 
The Spanish colonies in America having revolted, it was rumored 



History of Fredericlcshurg, Virginia 311 

that this alliance contemplated their subjugation, although the 
United States had acknowledged their independence. George Can- 
ning, English Secretary of State, proposed that England and 
America unite to oppose such intervention. On consultation with 
Jefferson, Madison, John Quincy Adams and Calhoun, Monroe, in 
his annual message to Congress in 1823, embodied the conclusions 
of these deliberations in what has since been known as the Monroe 
Doctrine. Eeferring to the threatened intervention of the powers, 
the message declares : 'We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the 
amicable relations existing between the United States and those 
powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their 
part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as 
dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or 
dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and 
shall not interfere. But with the governments who have declared 
their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we 
have, on great consideration and on Just principles, acknowledged, 
we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing 
them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any 
European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an 
unfriendly disposition toward the United States.' " 

ESTABLISHED THE YOUNG KEPDBLIC. 

And furthermore: jSTot only did Fredericksburg and vicinity 
furnish the leader of the American armies to victory and independ- 
ence, and the leading spirit in the navy; not only did they furnish 
the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Father of 
the Constitution, but they furnished the Presidents of the United 
States for thirty-two years of the most trying and difficult part of 
the history of the Eepublic, — it being the formative period of an 
experiment, — except the four years of John Adams's administration, 
during which but little, if any, progress was made. Washington 
was the first President, serving eight years; Jefferson succeeding 
Adams, who served eight years ; then Madison eight years, followed 
by James Monroe for eight years, thus making the thirty-two years. 
Besides these four Presidents, Virginia furnished three others, 



312 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

who lived or were born within the circle of seventy-five miles of 
Fredericksburg, namely, Wm. Henry Harrison, John Tyler and 
Zachary Taylor. It is rather remarkable that both Harrison and 
Tyler should have been born in Charles City county, Virginia, 
elected on the same ticket, Harrison, who had moved to Ohio, as 
President, and Tyler as Vice-President, the death of the former 
just one month after his inauguration, elevating Tyler to the Presi- 
dency. President Taylor was born in Orange county. 

THE GREAT N'ORTHWEST RECLAIMED. 

It was George Eodgers Clarke,* of Albemarle county, a Virginian 
and a Fredericksburg man, by the authority of Virginia's Governor, 
Patrick Henry, with volunteers from Virginia and Kentucky, ex- 
plored and conquered the great Korthwest Territory. This terri- 
tory belonged to Virginia under original grant in her charter, but 
the British at this time held it, established strong posts there and 
encouraged the Indians to make war on the white settlements. The 
Continental Congress could spare no troops to reclaim this terri- 
tory, though appealed to by Virginia to do so. For this dangerous 
task Geo. E. Clarke proffered his services, which were accepted by 
the Governor. Enlisting volunteers, he marched into that region, 
and by real ability, rare skill, heroic courage and patience in bear- 
ing every hardship and privation, captured Forts Kaskaskia and 
Vincennes and other posts, and floated the flag of Virginia over 
the whole of the Northwest Territory, it being designated Illinois 
county, Virginia. 

This campaign cleared that entire country of the British, and 
secured to Virginia a clear title to that vast territory, out of which 
the States of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, AVisconsin, Michigan and a 
part of Minnesota were afterwards carved, and which Virginia 
gave to the Union as a free-will offering, the most imperial gift 
that State or nation ever laid on the altar of country, f 

♦ A son of Jonathan Clarke, who lived at Newmarket, in Spotsylvania county, 
and afterwards moved to Fredericksburg. For many years he was clerk of the 
county court of Spotsylvania. George Rodgers Clarke is said to have been 
born while his father lived at Newmarket. -^A letter from a descendant. 
Jones's IT. S. History. 



History of Frederichsburg, Virginia 313 

Senator Daniel W. Voorhees, of Indiana, in his defence of 
Cook, at Charlestown, now West A^irginia, in 1859, one of the John 
Brown raiders, said in his opening remarks : 

"The very soil on which I live, in my western home, was once 
owned by this venerable Commonwealth, as much as the soil on 
which I now stand. Her laws there once prevailed, and all her 
institutions were there established as they are here. Not only my 
own State of Indiana, but also four other great States in the 
Northwest, stand as enduring and lofty monuments of Virginia's 
magnanimity and princely liberality. Her donation to the general 
government made them sovereign States; and since God gave the 
fruitful land of Canaan to Moses and Israel, such a gift of present 
or future empire has never been made to any people." 

THE WEST EXPLOEED. 

It was Meriwether Lewis, of Albemarle, and Wm. Clarke,* of 
Fredericksburg, both Virginians, who explored that great stretch of 
country from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, and made 
it less difficult for John C. Fremont, who afterwards explored the 
same territory and received the proud appellation of the "Great Path 
Finder," which appellation rightly belonged to Lewis and Clarke. 

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. 

It was Thomas Jefferson, of Albemarle county, a Virginian, who, 
while President of the United States, made the "Louisiana Pur- 
chase," which brought to the possession of the United States more 
than one million square miles of territory. This immense territory 
belonged to the French government. It embraced the present 
States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kebraska, Iowa, Indian 
Territory, North and South Dakota, Montana, and parts of Kan- 
sas, Minnesota, Wyoming and Colorado. The price paid was 
$11,250,000 in money and the assumption by the government of 
debts due our citizens by France, amounting to $3,750,000, making 
in all $15,000,000. 



* Capi. Wm. Clarke was a Fredericksburg man. He was a son of Jonathan 
Clarke, of Fredericksburg, who was clerk of Spotsylvania county court. He was, 
therefore, a brother of General Geo. Rodgers Clarke, who conquered the great 
northwest territory. — A letter from a descendant of Wm. Clarke. See also Maury's 
History of Virginia, page 158. 



314 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

The purchase of this vast territory was bitterly opposed, — as all 
acquisitions of territory by the United States have been — especially 
in ISTew England, where they threatened to secede from the Union, 
if it was consummated, and the legislation of Massachusetts passed 
and sent to the President and Speaker of the House a resolution 
to the effect that they would consider the adding of the Louisiana 
territory, to ihe domain of the United States, just cause for exer- 
cising their right of secession.* 

THE PLOKIDA PURCHASE. 

It was James Monroe, of Fredericksburg, a Virginian, who pur- 
chased Florida from the Spanish government for $5,000,000, a land 
of "Fruits and Flowers,'^ and a favorite health resort for winter 
tourists from all parts of the country. Its Spanish name Pascua 
Florida, translated, means Flowery Easter, which indicates that in 
Florida the flower season is perpetual. 

ACQUISITION OF TEXAS. 

It was Sam Houston, of Eockbridge county, a Virginian, who 
wrested the great State of Texas from Mexico and afterwards 
ceded it to the United States, John Tyler, of Charles City county, 
a Virginian, signing the bills for its admission three days before 
his presidential term ended. By this acquisition the government 
added to its possessions territory sufficient, it is said, to furnish 
comfortable homes for the present population of the United States, 
which would then be less crowded than many of the States of 
Europe. 

THE MEXICAN WAR. 

It was Gen. Winfield Scott, of Dinwiddie county, a Virginian, 
and Gen. Zachary Taylor (Rough and Ready), of Orange county, 
also a Virginian, who subdued Mexico, by which there were added 
to the territory of the United States the great States of California, 
Arizona and New Mexico. 

And thus it will be seen, that all of the territory acquired by the 
United States Government, from the union of the colonies for the 



* Jones's U. S. History. 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 315 

common defence to the purchase of Alaska, except the Gadsden 
purchase^ was secured through Virginians, who were born and 
raised, and many of them at the time lived, in or near Fredericks- 
burg. 

COMMODORE F. M. MAURY. 

It was Matthew Fontaine Maury, of Spotsylvania county, and 
later a resident of Fredericksburg, a Virginian, who marked out 
the tracks of speed and safety for mariners of every clime over the 
ocean's bosom, and showed the beds on the bottom of the seas, 
where the cable lines now safely lie, of whom all the officers of the 
maritime nations came to learn, on whom kings and emperors 
bestowed orders, medals and decorations, and of whom the great 
Humboldt said he had created a new science.* 

The following paper, on this great man's life, character and 
achievements, to whom the world is so greatly indebted, was pre 
pared by Eev. J. S. Dill, D. D., then a resident of this place, and 
pastor of the Baptist church, for this volume : 

"On the 14th of January, 1806, only ten miles from the city 
of Fredericksburg, in the county of Spotsylvania, was born Matthew 
Fontaine Maury. He came of goodly stock, for there mingled 
in his nature, in equal parts, the sturdy religious life of the French 
Huguenots and the gallantry of the English Cavalier. On his 
mother's side he belonged to the Minor family, of Virginia, while 
his name testifies that his paternal ancestors were among those who, 
from the persecutions of France, stretched their arms to the ISTew 
World. 

"Wlien Maury was five years old, his parents emigrated to Ten- 
nessee and settled near the present town of Franklin. Thus, in the 
primeval forests of Tennessee, far away from the ocean's tuneful 
chant, there grew up the lad, who was to become 'The Pathfinder of 
the Seas.' 

"The early educational advantages of young Maury were but 
scant. An accident, disqualifying him for farm service, gave him 
his best opportunity at an academy, and this he did not fail to use. 



• General D. H. Maury's History of Va. 



316 History of Fi'edericksburg , Virginia 

Maury looked to the army for a profession, but his parents denied 
him. When, without their knowledge, he then secured his appoint- 
ment to the navy, they again objected, and he left home without 
his father's blessing. In 1825, an inland lad of nineteen years, 
Maury was assigned to duty as a midshipman on the Brandywine. 
It became evident that he had resolved to master his profession, 
and his promotion was rapid. In 1831 he was appointed master 
of the sloop of war Falmouth, which was ordered to Pacific waters. 
Diligently he sought information as to the best track for his vessel. 
Finding no reliable chart for his guidance, he realized the need of 
such help and his mind began at once to grapple with that problem, 
the solution of which afterwards immortalized him. 

WON"DERFUL WORKS ON" NAVIGATION". 

"At home for a time in 1834, he was married to Miss Ann Hern- 
don, of Fredericksburg, and from, this time on we find much of his 
family life woven into the history of our city. On Charlotte street, 
between Princess Ann and Prince Edward, still stands the house* 
where he lived and his children were born. At this time he pub- 
lished his first book — a 'Treatise on Navigation' — which for many 
years, even after the Civil war, was made a text book in the naval 
academy at Annapolis. His pen now became active in newspaper 
articles that startled the country, and there even arose a sentiment 
to elevate him to the portfolio of Secretary of the Navy. 

"In the fall of 1839, by the upsetting of the stage in which he was 
travelling, his knee was severely fractured. But this untoward 
accident, under the guiding hand of God, put him into the very 
position in which he was to perform his life-work. His lame leg 
being unseaworthy, he was placed in charge of the 'Depot of Charts 
and Instruments,' at Washington. Here he grasped his great op- 
portunity. Here, at the capital of the nation, he wrought for 
twenty years, and these two decades, from 1841 to 1861, mark the 
high tide of his service to the world. 

"At Washington Maury found the vast accumulation of the 
log books' of the United States warships, stored away as mere rub- 



* Pointed out to the author by Mrs. Ann Maury, his widow. 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 317 

bish. This he utilized as valuable data. He also set in operation 
plans for still more complete and accurate collections of all kinds of 
hydrographic and meteorologic observations. With all this before 
him, with pains-taking toil, he prepared his wonderful 'charts and 
sailing directions.' His work took ultimate form in a series of six 
'charts' and eight large folio volumes of 'sailing directions/ and 
these comprehended all waters, in every clime, where fly the white 
sails of civilized commerce. 

"The charts exhibit, with wonderful accuracy, the winds and cur- 
rents, their force and direction, at different seasons, the temperature 
of the surface waters, the calm belts and trade vdnds, the rains 
and the storms. The eight volumes of 'sailing directions,' are 
brim full of the most valuable nautical information, and are per- 
fect treasures to the intelligent seaman. This effected a revolu- 
tion in the art of navigation. The practical result was that the 
most difficult of all sea voyages — that from New York to San 
Francisco, around Cape Horn — has been shortened by forty days; 
and it has been estimated, that in shortening the time and lessening 
the dangers of sea voyages, there has been a saving to the world's 
commerce of not less than $40,000,000 annually. 

"In writing about these sea routes he has mapped out, Maury 
has this to say : 'So to shape the course on voyages as to make the 
most of winds and currents at sea, is the perfection of the naviga- 
tor's art. How the winds blow and the currents flow along this 
route or that, is no longer matter of opinion or speculation. The 
wind and the weather, daily encountered by hundreds, who have 
sailed the same voyage before him, have been tabulated for the 
mariner; nay, his path has been literally blazed for him on the 
sea; mile posts have been set upon the waves, and finger-boards 
planted and time-tables furnished for the trackless waste.' 

"The simple 'Depot of Charts and Instruments,' over which 
Maury was placed, soon became the 'National Observatory,' with 
this man of genius as its superintendent. The vast work was inter- 
national and, in 1853, brought about the great Brussels confer- 
ence. On his return from this conference, ladened with honors, 
Maury stood before the world as the founder of the twin sciences 



318 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

of hydrography and meteorology. Nio less a man than Alexander 
von Hmiiboldt declared him the founder of a new science. 

POUNDER OF WEATHER BUREAU. 

"The limits of this sketch forbid more than a bare mention of 
the many other directions in which the genius of this wonderful 
man blessed the world. The great Atlantic cable, that flashes the 
news from continent to continent, is one of the radiant sparks that 
flew from his anvil as he wrought. Cyrus Field declared, at its 
completion, 'Maury furnished the brains, England gave the money, 
I did the work.' He established the river gauges of the Mississippi 
and the daily observations that give our best knowledge of that 
great river. He established the great circle routes for ocean 
steamship travel, and the 'steam laws' now used in ocean travel are 
his. He applied his system of meteorology to land as well as sea, 
and outlined the work of the 'signal service' and 'weather bureau' 
of to-day. 

"The 'National Observatory,' under Maury, comprehended in all 
essential particulars what now is divided into no less than four 
departments at Washington. In 1855 Maury published his popu- 
lar work 'The Physical Geography of the Sea and its Meteorology.' 
The work has passed through twenty editions, and has found its 
way into the languages of Continental Europe. It is the very 
poetry of his great science, analyzing and tabulating millions of 
observations of the sea — its currents and its climates, its winds and 
rains and storms, its myriads of animal life, and marvellous forma- 
tions of shore-lines and bottoms — he found his \\-ay to the heart 
of nature and laid before us, like an open book, her majestic laws. 
And never did scientific man touch nature in more devout spirit. 
In all he saw the handiwork of God. Investigations into the 
broad-spreading circle of phenomena, connected with the winds of 
heaven and the waves of the sea, never failed to lift his mind to the 
Creator. As he pondered these things, he heard a voice in every 
wave that clapped its hand, he felt a pressure in every breeze that 
blew, he knelt and worshipped God. 



History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 319 

STOOD WITH THE SOUTH. 

"The life of Maury fell on times when there were at work other 
currents than those of sea and river. Political passions blew to a 
gale and the nation drifted to Civil war. His supreme sense of 
duty, and loyalty to his own State, was the current that bore him 
away from Washington and stranded him in the final wreck of the 
Southern Confederacy. In those unhappy times no man sacrificed 
more than Maury. He not only resigned his high position at 
Washington, but turned his back upon tempting offers from Eussia 
and France, in order to suffer affliction with his own people. In 
the Civil war he rendered most valuable service by introducing 
submarine torpedo warfare, and inventing a sure method of ex- 
plosion by electricity. Much of his time was spent in England 
purchasing navy supplies and perfecting inventions in navy war- 
fare. 

"After the war, Maury turned to Mexico and joined his fortunes 
to the Emperor Maximilian; but the tragic end of this friend and 
patron, again left him stranded. When, in 1868, the enactment of 
a general amnesty removed his political disabilities, Maury accepted 
the Chair of Meteorology in the Virginia Military Institute, and 
there spent the closing years of his life. He greatly rejoiced in 
this return to old friends and scenes, and addressed himself with 
ardor to congenial pursuits. But a constitution, not the strongest, 
gave way to the storms of the last years. The middle of October, 

1872, on his return from a fatiguing lecture tour, as he crossed his 
threshold he said "^I am come home to die.' For four long months 
he lay weak and suffering. The end came on the 1st of February, 

1873. A heavenly breeze bore him to the anchorage beyond the 
sea, and the trusting child of nature rested with his God. 

"Than Matthew Fontaine Maury no American has received 
higher honors from foreign countries. Orders of Knighthood were 
bestowed upon him by the Emperor of Eussia, King of Denmark, 
King of Portugal, King of Belgium, and the Emperor of France; 
while Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Holland, Sardinia, Bremen and 
France, struck gold medals in his honor The Pope sent him a full 
set of all the medals struck during his pontificate; Maximilian deco- 



320 History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 

rated him with 'The Cross of Our Lady Guadaloiipe ;' while Ger- 
many bestowed upon him the great 'Cosmos Medal/ struck in 
honor of Von Humboldt. It is the only duplicate of that medal in 
existence. He became corresponding member of more literary and 
scientific circles^ and received more honorary diplomas, at home 
and abroad, than any other man known to history. 

"Our own ISTational Government has failed to honor his memory 
by appropriate memorial, yet his name is so woven with his great 
science that it must live. The Hon. Mellin Chamberlain, late 
Librarian of Congress, in calm judicial tone, has declared, 'I do not 
suppose there is the least doubt that Maury was the greatest man 
America has ever produced.^ 

"^A bill to honor Commodore Maury, with an appropriate monu- 
ment, lies mouldering in the archives of Congress. It will some 
day see the light. During the last years of Maury's life the smoke 
of a great conflict gathered about him and hid his face from the 
ISTational Government ; but the smoke is fast lifting, and the healthy 
breezes of a great national fraternity will soon blow it far away. 
Then his nation will look upon his face and see the clear outlines 
of his character — then will he take his own proper place in 
America's galaxy of the great." 

THE ladies' memorial ASSOCIATION". 

It was in Fredericksburg, and by the ladies of Fredericksburg, 
Virginians, that the first memorial association was organized and 
chartered for looking after the dead soldiers, for providing them 
a final resting place in some convenient cemetery laid out for the 
purpose, and strewing their graves with the first flowers of spring 
as the years pass by. This was their second care after their return 
to their homes at the close of the Civil war, their first being their 
own homes, which were almost in ruins ; and since the organization 
of that memorial association no season of flowers has passed that 
these graves have not been piously remembered. 

MARY WASHINGTON MONUMENT. 

It was the ladies of Fredericksburg, Virginians, who inaugurated 
the move, and carried it on to complete success, to raise a menu- 




Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury, the "Path 

Finder of the Seas." 

(See page 315) 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 321 

ment to a woman, the tallest and most imposing of its kind that is 
to be found on this continent. It towers over fifty feet high, the 
shaft is solid granite, and it marks the grave of the greatest of 
American women — Mary, the mother of Washington. It is true, 
that after the work was commenced, the plans laid, and some money 
raised, the ladies were assisted by the National Mary Washington 
Monument Association, which did good service, but even that asso- 
ciation, brought into being through the local association at Ered- 
ericksburg, was made more active and efficient by the energy and 
persistence of the pioneers in the movement. That monument is 
grand and beautiful, and reaches high into the heavens, and while 
it marks the last resting place of that sainted woman, it reflects 
great honor upon all the ladies who assisted in its erection. 

These are some of the things in which A^irginians took the lead 
and which were accom|)lished by them. There may be omissions of 
noble acts and brave deeds that might have been mentioned of whose 
existence we are in ignorance, but these we have mentioned will 
suffice to show that they were the leading spirits in throwing ojff the 
British yoke of oppression, in uniting the colonies for common 
defence, in proclaiming to the world our grievances and declaring 
for freedom, in waging a long and bloody war and securing inde- 
pendence, in forming and conducting the government from its 
infancy through its experimental period, in extending it& territorial 
limits and in contributing to its national greatness. If for all 
this — if for what has been achieved by their ancestors in field and 
forum, on land and sea, an honest pride should well up in the breast 
of the Virginians of the living present, that should find expression 
in words, where is the individual that can rise up and charge them 
with vain boasting ? 



21 



CHAPTEE XXII. 

Frederichslurg at Present — The Health of the City — Its Financial 
Solidity — Its G ommercial Prosperity — Its Lines of Transpor- 
tation — Its Water Power — Its Official Calendar — List of 
Mayors, &c. 

We now come to the closing words of the history of our venerable 
city, and what we shall add in closing will be of Fredericksburg 
as it is at present, without going into tiresome details, but before 
proceeding with that interesting topic we must turn aside to men- 
tion some useful and honored organizations of the ladies of the 
town, which failed to receive attention in a former chapter, after 
which our subject, "Fredericksburg at Present," will be resumed. 

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.* 

The Betty Washington Lewis Chapter, Daughters of the Ameri- 
can Revolution, was organized in 1899 at the Exchange Hotel. 
Several prominent members of the National Society were present 
and explained the scope and work of the association. Mrs. Wm. 
Key Howard, of Kenmore, was appointed regent, by Mrs. Hugh N. 
Page, State regent, and twelve charter members were obtained. 
At the end of the first year Mrs. Howard resigned, and, in Feb- 
ruary, 1900, at a meeting at Kenmore, once the home of the sister 
of Washington, whose name the chapter adopted, Mrs. John T. 
Goolrick was elected regent; Mrs. H. M. D. Martin, vice-regent; 
Mrs. B. C. Chancellor, registrar; Mrs. V. S. F. Doggett, treasurer; 
Miss Sallie N". Gravatt, secretary, and Mrs. V. M. Fleming, his- 
torian. In addition to these officers the following charter mem- 
bers were present: Mrs. Marion Maria Mason Daniel, Mrs. Kate 
Tichenor Dill, Mrs. C. P. Howard, Mrs. Florence C. Eichards, 
Mrs. Lettie M. Spencer and Mrs. Florence F. Weir. 

In the preliminary work of organization, which was undertaken 
by Mrs. John T. Goolrick, one of her warmest supporters was Mrs. 

*Paper prepared by Mrs. J. T. G. 

[ 322 ] 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 323 

Martin. She actively interested herself in the cause, her house 
was always open for meetings and through her several members 
were added to the chapter. The work of Mrs. V. S. F. Doggett 
was valuable and effective, and to the time of her death her zeal 
and interest were unabated. Mrs Lucilla S. Bradley, a "real 
daughter," and Mrs. Maria Jefferson Carr Mason, a great grand- 
daughter of Thomas Jefferson, were honorary members. 

This chapter has aided many worthy causes outside and inside of 
the society, both local and foreign. Colonial balls and other en- 
tertainments have, at different intervals, been given, among the 
handsomest being a reception at Kenmore, where an address on 
John Paul Jones was delivered by Capt. S. J. Quinn, before a 
large and appreciative audience. 

In 1904 the State Conference was entertained by the Fredericks- 
burg Chapter, and the guests were unstinted in their praises of the 
hospitality accorded them here. The chapter is at present as vital 
a force as when organized, and prepared to use opportunities when 
found to do work along historical and helpful lines. The officers 
elected at a recent meeting are Mrs. John T. Goolrick, regent; 
Mrs. W. H. Eichards, vice-regent; Mrs. B. C. Chancellor, registrar; 
Mrs. H. M. Eckenrode, treasurer, and Miss Sallie N. Gravatt, 
secretary. 

DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDEEACT. 

The Daughters of the Confederacy was organized on the 28th of 
February, 1896, with the following officers: Mrs. Joseph Nich- 
olas Barne}^, president; Mrs. J. Horace Lacy, vice-president; Mrs. 
Vivian M. Fleming, secretary, and Miss Sallie Nelson Gravatt, 
treasurer, and an executive committee of fourteen ex-Confederates. 
The chapter rapidly grew in numbers and at one time had upon the 
roll nearly two hundred names. This society has been quite active 
since its organization and has done much good in the way of help- 
ing destitute veterans, looking after and administering to the sick 
and burying the dead. It has been the channel of distributing the 
Confederate crosses, and if any cross has been bestowed upon the 
unworthy, it was because of the ability of the unworthy to obtain 
vouchers from genuine Confederates. This chapter has done a 



324 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

good work in looking after the remains of Confederate soldiers, 
when found upon the battle-fields or elsewhere, and having them 
interred in the Confederate cemetery. One of the praiseworthy 
acts of the society, a few years ago, was to disinter the remains of 
the brave Gen. Abner Perrin, killed at the "Bloody Angle" while 
gallantly leading his brigade, and buried on the Hicks farm near 
the courthouse, and Lieut. Wm. H. Richardson, of Alabama, killed 
at the same time, and buried by the General, and to place them 
side by side in the Confederate cemetery. And yet there is other 
work for these self-sacrificing ladies to do. By annual elections 
Mrs. Barney has remained at the head of the chapter and is the 
present presiding officer, with Miss Sallie M. Lacy as secretary, 
who is an active support to the president. 

ASSOCIATION" FOR THE PRESERVATION OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES.* 

The Fredericksburg Branch of the Association for the Preserva- 
tion of Virginia Antiquities is a small but active band. They have 
acquired the Mary Washington ITouse and "Eising Sun Tavern." 
Tlie "Tavern" has been recently repaired, but retains in all respects 
its original style of architecture. Both buildings are furnished in 
"ye olden style," and are centers of great interest to visitors. The 
officers of this branch are Mrs. Vivian M. Fleming, directress; 
Miss Rebecca C. Mander, secretary, and Mrs. Charles Wallace, 
treasurer. 

THE CITY MISSION. 

The City Mission was organized on the 14th of March, 1901, 
mainly through the efforts of Rev. W. D. Smith, rector of St. 
George's church, and Mrs. J. B. Ficklen. It has been quite an 
active society and much good has resulted from its labors. The 
main object of the society is to afEord relief to the destitute of the 
town, especially the sick, and as it is composed altogether of benev- 
olent and kind hearted ladies, we know, from this and their splendid 
labors in the past, that their mission will be well performed. They 
do more than look after the sick. These ladies gather up second- 
hand clothing from those who can spare it and sell the same at a 



*Paper prepared by Miss R. C. M. 



History of Freclerichshuvg, Virginia 325 

c}jeap rate to those able to purchase and give to the destitute. The 
society is composed of ladies from all religious denominations, and 
the city is laid out in districts, each of which is placed in charge of 
three ladies, to whom applications for assistance by parties living 
therein are referred. By this method impositions are rare and 
needy persons are not overlooked. The present officers of the 
society are Mrs. J. B. Ficklen, president; Mrs. B. B. Montgomery 
and Miss Jennie Hurkamp vice-presidents; Miss Kebecca C. Man- 
der, secretary; Miss Annie Myer, treasurer, and Mrs. Isaac Hirsh, 
purchasing agent. 

THE FREDERICKSBURG TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.* 

The faculty of the public schools of Fredericksburg met and or- 
ganized the Fredericksburg Teachers' Association in September,, 
1906. The officers elected at that meeting were as follows : Miss 
Kate James Mander, jiresident; Miss Clarice Crittenden Davis,, 
vice-president; Miss Jennie M. Goolrick, secretary, and Miss- 
Maggie L. Honey, treasurer. The president of the School Board,, 
Mr. A. B. Bowering, after the teachers were organized, was re- 
quested to outline a plan for a library, which he did, and the teach- 
ers commenced the work. After obstacles and delays, by solicita- 
tion, and dessert sales, a sufficient amount of money was raised to 
commence the purchase of books, and quite a nice collection of the 
best publications was secured. Since that additions have been 
made as the means of the association would justify, and now the 
library is an institution formed on a solid basis. It is popular 
with the children, and from it they derive much pleasure and in- 
struction. The present officers are Miss Kate James Mander,. 
president; Miss Mary Page Waller, vice-president; Miss Agnes P. 
Eoach, secretary, and Miss Maggie L. Honey, treasurer. 

EREDERICKSBURG AT PRESENT. 

Fredericksburg is a healthy town — a true Virginia city — almost 
free from the fevers and diseases that visit other cities of the coast 
or even of tidewater. It is beautifully situated on the west bank. 



^Paper prepared by Miss K. J. M. 



336 History of Freclerichsburg , Virginia 

of the Eappahannock river^ at the head of tidewater, where its in- 
habitants escape the malaria of the lowlands and the fevers peculiar 
to the mountains. Therefore, when we compare the death rate of 
Fredericksburg, which is made every month by Dr. J. N. Barney, 
our health officer, with that of other neighboring cities, we find it 
quite favorable to our town. 

PURE WATER SUPPLY. 

Our main source of water supply, tlie Eappahannock river, has 
no city or town of any size above us, and for that reason the water 
is almost free from foreign substances, and as pure as are the 
mountain springs from which it flows. The analysis of this water, 
which has often been made in the years gone by, and repeatedly in 
the past few years, shows ninety-eight per cent., which probably more 
nearly approaches absolute purity than any other stream of its size 
in the country. Besides this aid to health, the sanitary condition 
of the town is carefully looked after by the Board of Health, and 
everything that threatens the introduction of disease is at once 
removed or reduced to a healthy condition. In addition to this, 
as a convenience for the citizens, and an aid to health conditions, 
the main part of the city has been sewered within the past four 
years, and laterals are in course of construction to reach those por- 
tions of the town not now sewered. With these aids to health and 
our lynx-eyed Board of Health, who are always on the alert, we may 
liope for and confidently expect, as we now have, an unusually 
healthy city. 

FUSTANCIAL CON'DITION OF THE CITY. 

The financial condition of Fredericksburg is good, and her credit 
is undoubted. It is true that the debt of the city is large, but for 
every bond issued there is something substantial standing for it, 
except nearly $120,000 of ante-bellum bonds, issued by our fore- 
fathers in an honest and earnest endeavor to secure for our people 
improvements of a permanent and profitable character. But the 
improvements proved worthless to the town. Those who voted for 
them have passed over the river of death, leaving this indebtedness 
^as a legacy to their descendants, and we take great pleasure in pro- 



History of Fredericksburg, 'Virginia 337 

viding for it. The other bonds were issued for improvements the 
town needed and was compelled to have. They are all in use at 
present, successfully operated, and are valued far in advance of the 
price paid for them by the city, and it is only a question of private 
or corporation ownership, as to whether it Avas a wise policy for 
the city to erect and operate them. The City Council thinks it 
acted for the best interests of the town and the people back it up 
in that opinion. Nearly all of the bonds issued by the city bear 
four per cent., were sold at or above par and purchased mostly by 
our own citizens. This, it would appear, is a strong indication 
that our financial affairs are in a satisfactory condition. 

I PRESENT COMMERCIAL CONDITION". 

The commercial prosperity of the town is probably far in advance 
of what it ever was before. We have now about one hundred and 
fifteen wholesale and retail stores, each one doing a thriving busi- 
ness. In these stores the customer will be able to find any article 
of merchandise he may need and at as low price as he could find it 
in the larger cities. In the last few years there has been a spirit 
of improvement in business houses, and at present there are to be 
found store-houses that would be a credit to a city of larger preten- 
tions. So changed is the business portion of Main street by reason 
of this enlargement and ornamentation that citizens of the town 
have often had to inquire for the places they wished to visit. In 
addition to this, our manufactures have increased and are still in- 
creasing, and in them hundreds of persons find employment at liv- 
ing wages. Among the manufacturing institutions may be men- 
tioned two large flouring mills, one woolen mill, one pants factory, 
one silk mill, two sumac mills, three excelsior mills, one mattress 
factory, two pickle factories, one canning factory, one shoe factory, 
one shirt factory, one spoke factory and six repair shops. The 
assessed taxable value of property in town is, personal property 
$703,782, real estate $1,676,133, making a total of $2,379,915. 
Besides this, our several banks, in their periodical statements, made 
to the Government, show largely over a million dollars on deposit, 
subject to individual checks. In view of these facts truly it may 



328 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

be said that Fredericksburg is in a prosperous commercial condition 
and is rapidly adding to that prosperity. 

LINES OF TRANSPORTATION. 

The lines of transportation running to and from Fredericksburg 
are sufficient for all the requirements of the town, both as to freight 
and passenger travel, yet our citizens would not object to the con- 
struction of another road, starting at some deep water point on the 
coast, crossing the Rappahannock river at this place and connecting 
north of us with the great trunk lines, traversing this extensive 
country in all directions. But for this important improvement 
we must patiently wait. 

The great line of travel and traffic through Fredericksburg, north 
and south, at present, is the Eichmond, Fredericksburg and Poto- 
mac railroad. This road is probably one of the best conducted 
roads in the country and seldom has an accident. Not until a few 
years ago did it share its track with any other road, but now three 
or more companies are running their cars over this line and the 
carrying business is immense. This large increase in business ne- 
cessitated a double track of the entire line — from Richmond to 
"Washington — which was done with great rapidity. The present 
service on this road that passes through town is nine passenger 
trains north and ten south each twenty-four hours. In addition 
to this, the increase in freight has also increased the number of 
freight trains, and so we now have fifty to pass through in a day 
and night, and yet it is more than probable that this large number 
will soon be further increased. This road has a new iron bridge 
spanning the Rappahannock river at this point. 

The Piedmont, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad — ISTarrow 
Gauge — runs daily from Fredericksburg to Orange, a distance of 
forty miles. It connects Fredericksburg and intermediate points, 
with that great trunk line, the Southern, at that point, which is an 
accommodation to the travelling public along its entire line. Al- 
though a narrow gauge road, it does quite a large business and it 
has been rumored that it may be extended beyond the mountains 
some day, in which event it will become a line of greater importance 
than at present. 




The Office of the Fredericksburg Water Power Company. 
(See page 330) 




"Marye Mansion," Gen. Longstreet's headquarters at Battle of 
Fredericksburg, December 13, 18t)2; now the 
residence of Capt. M. B. Rowe. 
(See page 91) 



History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 339 

The former citizen, who went out from ns even a few years ago, 
on his return to his old home now, would find, among other changes, 
that the Weems Line of steamers from Fredericksburg to Baltimore, 
had transferred its business to another company, and the old fa- 
miliar name of Weems, of more than a half century standing, whose 
line was so intimately interwoven with all the interests of Fred- 
ericksburg, was a name of the past. But he would also find a line 
— The Marjdand, Delaware and Virginia railroad, not that their 
steam boats run upon railroad tracks — had taken its place, and, by 
its splendid steamers, so well adapted to the river trade, had 
brought us into rapid and easy communication with ^STorfolk and 
Baltimore, by the Eappahannock river and Chesapeake bay. and 
thence with the whole busy world beyond. 

A SPLENDID WATER POM^ER. 

Some one writing of our water-power some years ago said : 
"The water-power of the Eappahannock river at Fredericksburg, 
made available by the erection of a magnificent dam, has been 
harnessed for work to some extent, but not yet to its full capacity." 
That this is true is a pity, but that it will not long be true is a 
blessing. The old dam, which gave us only five thousand horse- 
power, is rapidly yielding to the touch of time, and already another 
is in course of construction that will be more substantial and give 
us more power than the present dam gives at its best. A gentle- 
man, well informed as to the plans of the present company, says : 
"The dam now in process of construction will be built just below 
the present dam and will be of reinforced concrete. It will be 
about twenty-two feet above the present water level below the old 
dam, and will husband the entire plan of the river ; or rather, will 
render the entire plan available for power purposes, but will not, 
strictly speaking, husband the entire plan, because the pond behind 
the dam will be rather limited in capacity owing to the closeness of 
the hills on either side of the river and the abrupt fall of the 
stream. This dam will afford about eight thousand horse-power, 
utilized in the city, and at a power-house of the company to be 
built near the silk mill, but to the east of the main Falmouth road. 



330 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

Just above Taylor's quarry it is planned to build another dam 
seventy-six feet high^ or about one hundred and thirty-eight 
feet above the sea, with quite a large pond or storage reservoir 
behind it, reaching up the river some ten miles or more. And 
then above this reach, and at or about the junction of the two 
rivers, the large dam, about eighty-four feet high, or two hundred 
and twenty-two feet above sea level, will complete the development 
so far as the Fredericksburg Power Company is concerned. This 
last level reaches to about Germanna. The whole contemplated 
scheme will yield about thirty thousand horse-power." This will 
be such an enormous increase of power over what we now have that 
we cannot realize it. But the question is, what is to be done with 
this immense power? Shall it be used in Fredericksburg or trans- 
mitted to neighboring cities to increase their facilities for manu- 
factures ? Capitalists and manufacturers must answer this question. 

It will thus be seen that Fredericksburg, with its quiet ways and 
want of bustling activity, is a manufacturing center of considerable 
importance, and lying, as it does, on the line of travel from north 
to south, there is no good reason, as we have intimated, why it may 
not be a manufacturing center of much greater importance. 

It is true that those who estimate a place solely by the number 
of industrial enterprises which it encourages, or the amount of 
traffic which comes to it, would not rank Fredericksburg as highly 
as some of the more busy or bustling towns of other parts of the 
country, but those who recognize other agencies besides water wheels 
and steam engines, and other earthly products, besides dry goods, 
groceries and general merchandise, will find much here to admire 
and interest them. 

It is also true that with the manufacturing facilities that we 
possess we would gladly see them greatly enlarged and more fully 
developed, also new ones erected and operated, but with this accom- 
plished we would not forget that there are better fabrics than those 
that are manufactured by mechanical appliances. With a climate 
unsurpassed, an immunity from epidemics, a situation enviable 
because of its surroundings, water as pure as ever came from 
mountain springs, with all the advantages as we have before said 



History of Fredericl'sburg, Virginia 331 

of tidewater, without its malaria, with all the benefits of the 
mountains, without the mountain fevers, together with a refined 
and elevated society — if these, with the additions of home virtues 
and home joys, be regarded as valuable in life, then Fredericks- 
burg must rank much higher than many a place that has more 
outward show of prosperity. 

The pursuit of gain and the exacting cares of business have not 
engaged altogether the thoughts and attentions of our people, to the 
exclusion of those things which tend to the pleasure, comfort and 
health of the community, and to its intellectual development. For 
the benefit of the first mentioned of these classes, Hurkamp Park 
has been located, Washington Avenue and the Niational Boulevard 
have been laid out, completed and adorned, and the Free Bridge 
has been constructed, while "Lovers' Lane" remains the same that 
it was in the century past. 

For those who would derive comfort from inhaling the pure, 
fresh air of the morning or evening in a drive, on horse-back or on 
a bicycle, can find on the avenue and boulevard beautifully graded 
drives, and a variety of scenes which are ever pleasing to the eye, 
while the beautiful sun risings and settings, and the deep blue sky 
above rival in grandeur and sublimity those of far-off Italy. 

For those who would spend the twilight hours in a pleasant walk 
with her who "claims his thoughts by day and dreams by night," in 
search of health the Free Bridge and the enchanting walks beyond 
are equal to the far-famed "Lovers' Lane," which in olden times 
was so attractive, even enchanting, as it is now, to the belles and 
beaux, where words were spoken and vows made that led to unions 
of hands and hearts that nothing earthly could weaken or sever. 

For those whose tastes and- inclinations lead them to intellectual 
enjoyment, the Library and Reading Eoom, located in the north 
wing of the Courthouse and the Wallace Library, soon to be in 
operation, afford excellent facilities. The Library at the Court- 
house is furnished with splendid books — historical, biographical, 
religious and miscellaneous, and the number is added to as the 
funds at the command of the association will allow. It is con- 
ducted by the ladies of the town, who are always ready to give, toil 



332 History of FredericJcsburg, Virginia 

and even sacrifice to benefit^ elevate and make more useful the 
masses of the people. 

All of these advantages belong to Fredericksburg, with many 
others that we have probably inadvertently omitted, that make 
it one of the most desirable residential cities in the country; and 
we can readily agree with Captain John Smith, the great explorer, 
"that Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for 
man's habitation," than the beautiful valley of the Eappahannock, 
and Fredericksburg is located on the most beautiful, picturesque 
and healthy spot of that far-famed valley. 

And yet, with all these advantages, pointing out Fredericksburg 
as a most desirable place for her educational, industrial, commer- 
cial and residential advantages, its prosperity is not what it should 
be ; but with a full development of all her varied facilities which we 
trust will be done in the near future and which can be done if 
our people will work harmoniously, we may hope for more pros- 
perous days; for 

"Reason's whole pleasure — all the joys of sense — 
Lie in three words — Health, Peace and Competence." 



History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 333 



OFFICIAL CALE:J^DAE.— September 1, 1908. 



HUSTINGS COURT. 



Hon. John T. Goolkick, Judge. 

Hon. Gkanville E. Swiet^ Commonwealth's Attorney. 

A. Bacon Yates, Clerh. 

JoiTN Scott Berky, Deputy Cleric. 

J. Conway Chiceiester, City Sergeant. 

Baylor S. Pates, Deputy City Sergeant. 



MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. 

H. Lewis Wallace, Mayor. 

Egbert T. Knox, Treasurer. 

A. B. BowERiNG, Commissioner of Revenue. 

A. P. EowE, City Tax Collector. 

E. H. Eandall, City Surveyor. 



MAGISTRATES. 

Upper Ward — S. J. Quinn, S. E. Eastburn, E. E. Bozel, 
Lower Ward — A. G. Billingsly. 



CITY COUNCIL. 



William E. Bradley, President. 

A. Mason Garner, Vice-President. 

Samuel E. Eastburn, Clerk. 

Upper Ward — Wm. E. Bradley, Harr}' B. Lane, Josiah P. Eowe, 
Joseph M. Goldsmith, John C. Melville, Clarance E. Howard. 

Lower Ward — A. Mason Garner, W. S. Embre}^, Jr., Henry War- 
den, J. W. Masters, F. L. W. Green, Arthur Brown. 



334 History of Frederichshurg, Virginia 

Council Committees. 
On Finance — Harry B. Lane, John C. Melville, Wni. E. Bradley. 

On Public Property — Wm. E. Bradley, A. Mason Garner, J. W. 

Masters. 

On Water Worl-s — Josiali P. Eowe, Harry B. Lane, A. Mason 
Garner. 

On Streets— W. S. Embrey, Jr., J. M. Goldsmith, C. E. Howard. 

On Light—John C. Melville, J. W. Masters, Harry B. Lane. 

On Almshouse — A. Mason Garner, Wm. E. Bradley, Josiah P. 
Eowe. 

On Public Interest — Joseph M. Goldsmith, C. E. Howard. Plenry 
Warden. 

On Ordinances — Clarance E. Howard, W. S. Embrey, Jr., E. L. 
W. Green. 

On Auditing — Authnr Brown, F. L. W. Green, John C. Melville. 

On Health and Police — John W. Masters, Henry Warden, Arthur 
Brown. 

On Schools — Henry Warden, Josiah P. Eowe, J. M. Goldsmith. 

On Fire Department— ¥. L. W. Green, Arthur Brown, \¥. S. 

Embrey, Jr. 

SUPERINTENDENTS OF DEPARTMENTS. 

S. J. QuiNN, Superintendent City Water Works. 
B. F. Bullock, Superintendent City Gas Works. 

Wm. Key Howard, Superintendent City Electric Light. 

John W. Ball, Superintendent Almshouse. 

Samuel Fitzhugh, Clei-k of Market. 



POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

Upper Ward — Wallace N. Tansill, J. A. Stone. 

Lower Ward — John H. Eobinson, Wm. E. Hall. 

Special Police — Charles A. Gore. 



History of FredericJcshurg, Virginia 335 

CITY REGISTRARS. 

Lower Ward — J. Fred. Brown. 
Upper Ward — John J. Berrey. 



PUBLIC FREE SCHOOL BOARD. 

A. B. BowERiNG, President. 

S. J. QuiNN, Clerk. 
B. P. Willis, Superintendent. 

Upper District — Isaac Hirsh, W. L. Brannan^ J. R. Rawlings. 
Lower District — A. B. Bowering, W. H. Hurkamp, Geo. Free- 
man^ Jr. 



BOARD OF HEALTH. 

Mayor H. Lewis Wallace. 

Dr. J. IsT. Barney, Secretary and Health Officer 

Dr. William Jeffries Chewning. 

A. Bacon Yates. 



CITY CORONER. 

Dr. xIndrew C. Doggett. 



336 History of Fredericksburg, Virginia 

MAYORS OF FREDERICKSBURG IN THEIR 
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 



Chables Mortimer from March, 1782, to March, 1783 

William Mc Williams from March, 1783, to March, 1784 

James Somerville from March, 1784, to March, 1785 

George Weedon . .i from March, 1785, to March, 1786 

Charles Mortimer .from March, 1786, to March, 1787 

James Somerville from March, 1787, to March, 1788 

Charles Mortimer from March, 1788, to March, 1789 

George French from March, 1789, to March, 1790 

Benjamin Day from March, 1790, to March, 1791 

William Harvey from March, 1791, to March, 1792 

James Somerville from March, 1792, to March, 1793 

Fontaine Maury from March, 1793, to March, 1794 

George French from March, 1794, to March, 1795 

William Harvey from March, 1795, to March, 1796 

Fontaine Maury from March, 1796, to March, 1797 

William Harvey from March, 1797 — died in office March 13, 1798 

Wm. Taylor from March 17, 1798 to March 19, 1798 

Fontaine Maury from March, 1798, to March, 1799 

George French from March, 1799, to March, 1800 

David C. Ker from March, 1800, to March, 1801 

William S. Stone . .( from March, 1801, to March, 1802 

David C. Keb from March, 1802, to March, 1803 

George French from March, 1803, to March, 1804 

Benjamin Day ; from March, 1804, to March, 1805 

George French from March, 1805, to March, 1806 

Charles L. Carter from March, 1806 — resigned August 11, 1808 

William Smock from August 11, 1808, to March, 1809 

RiCHABD Johnston from March, 1809, to March, 1810 

Geobge Fbench from March, 1810, to March, 1811 



' History of Fredericksburg , Virginia 337 

Joseph Walkek from March, 1811, to March, 1812 

George French from March, 1812, to March, 1813 

Charues L. Carter from March, 1813, to March, 1814 

George French from March, 1814, to Mairch, 1815 

John Scott , from March, 1815, to March, 1816 

Garret Minor from March, 1816, to March, 1817 

Robert Mackay from March, 1817, to March, 1818 

Garret Minor from March, 1818, to March, 1819 

Robert Mackay from March, 1819, to March, 1820 

David Briggs from March, 1820, to March, 1821 

Robert Lewis from March, 1820— died in office Feb. 10, 1829 

Thomas Goodwin. from Feb. 12, 1829— died in office Jan. 15, 1836 

John H. Wallace from January 20, 1836 to March 22, 1838 

Benjamin Clarke. from March 22, 1838, to March 22, 1844 

Robert Baylor Semple. .from Mar. 20, 1844 — died in office Feb. 8, 1853 

John L. Maeye, Je from Feb. 12, 1853, to March 21, 1854 

Peter Goolrick . from March 21, 1854, to March 21, 1855 

John S. Caldwell from March 20, 1855, to March 17, 1857 

Peter Gooleick from March 17, 1857, to March 22, 1859 

William S. Scott from March 22, 1859, to March 22, 1860 

Peter Goolrick ,. .from March 21, 1860 — resigned April 4, 1860 

Montgomery Slaughter, from April 4, 1860, removed by military April 

28, 1868. OiV'^' ■ 
Charles E. Mallam, appointed by military April 28, 1868, removed by 

military July 15, 1869. 
William E. Nye, appointed by military July 15, 1869, resigned Feb. 

23, 1870. 

Lawrence B. Rose elected by Council Feb. 23, 1870, to June 30, 1870 

William Roy Mason, elected by the people July 1, 1870, resigned July 

28, 1870. 

■ 

Lawrence B. Rose from July 28, 1870, to June 30, 1872 

Robert Banks Bereey from July 1, 1872, to June 30, 1874 

Lawrence B. Rose from July 1, 1874 — died in office April 10, 1877 

Hugh S. Doggett from April 12, 1877, to June 30, 1880 



338 History of FredericTisburg, Virginia 

Joseph Ward Senek from July 1, 1880, to June 30, 1884 

JosiAH Hazard .from July 1, 1884, to June 30, 1888 

Absalom P. Rowe from July 1, 1888, to June 30, 1896 

Wm. Seymour White from July 1, 1896 — died in office Nov. 26, 1897 

Henry R. Gouldman appointed Nov. 30, 1897, to June 30, 1898 

Absalom P. Rowe from July 1, 1898— died in office June 1, 1900 

Marion G. Willis ,. .appointed June 15, 1900, to June 30, 1902 

Marion G. Willis elected July 1, 1902, to June 30, 1904 

Thomas P. Wallace elected July 1, 1904, to August 31, 1908 

H. Lewis Wallace elected Sept. 1, 1908, and now serving. 



I iNj ZD E^ :x: . 



Accoqueck, 19. 

Acorn Lodge, I. O. O. F.. 221. 

Acquisition of Territory — Walk- 
er's exploration, 281; the Great 
Northwest, 312; the Louisiana 
purchase, 313; the Florida pur- 
chase, 314; acquisition of Texas, 
314; the territory from Mexico. 
314. 

Adams, Capt. Andrew B., 221. 

Adams, John, 230, 294. 

Adams, John Quincy, 311. 

Adams, Rev. Geo. F., 211. 

Adams, Samuel, patriot, 307. 

A great revival of religion, 93. 

Aldridge, Miss Virginia, 224. 

Aler, George, 141. 

Alexander, Capt. Robert H.. 184. 

Alexander, Gen. E. P., 91, 266. 

Alexander, Philip, 134. 

Alexander, Robert B., editor. 227. 

Allen, John, town trustee, 42. 

Allen, Wm.. 140, 142. 

Allison, John W., Jr., 167. 

Alsop. Boswell, 168. 

Ames. Michael, hostage prisoner, 
77, 79. 

Amoroleck, Smith's prisoner, 15. 
17. 

Anasheroans, Indian tribe, 19. 

Anderson, Capt. John K., 184. 

Anstice, Mrs. Judith, teacher, 197. 

Argall. Capt., 20. 

Armis,tead. Henry, court clerk, 130. 

Arts and manufactures encour- 
aged, 46. 

Assembly's Home and School, 198. 

Association for the P. V. A., 324. 

Atkinson, John, 237. 

Bacon. Nathaniel. 281. 283. 

Baggett. Samuel I., 262. 

Baggett, Wm. M., 141. 

Bagnall, Anthony, historian, 13, 15. 

Bailey, William, 221. 

Ball, Col. Wm. B., 83. 

Ball, John M., publisher. 229. 

Ball, John Wesley, 174. 

[ 339 



Bankhead, Col. John, 257. 
Barber, Rev. H. H., 207. 
Barbour, Gov. James, 132. 
Barksdale, Gen. Wm., 81, 88, 97, 99. 
Barlosius, Charles F., 167. 
Barney, Dr. J. N., 326. 
Barney, Mrs. Joseph Nicholas, 326. 
Barton, Thomas B., hostage pris- 
oner, 74, 77. 
Barton, Judge Wm. S., 68, 183, 215. 
Battle of Fredericksburg, 91, 92. 
Beale, Wm. C, 138. 139, 140. 
Beckwith, Frank, 174. 
Benson, Wm., 171. 
Benwick, J. B., Jr., architect, 141, 

210. 
Bernard, Wm., 46. 
Berrey, John J., hostage prisoner, 

79, 142. 
Berrey, Robert B., mayor, 184. 209. 
Beverley, Harry, town trustee, 39. 
Beverley, Robert, 28, 35. 
Billingsly, Rev. Joseph A., editor, 

227. 
Biscoe, Robert L., publisher, 229. 
Blackburn, Robert, 167. 
Blackford, Wm. M.. editor, 227. 
Blair, John, 302, 304. 
Blanton, Thomas, 237. 
Boardman, Stephen A., teacher. 

197. 
Board of Health, 335. 
Bonaparte, Charlotte, 243. 
Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon, 

243, 310. 
Boswell. Capt. J. K., engineer, 96. 
Botts. Benjamin. 172. 
Bowen. Wm., 167. 
Bowering, Benjamin, machinist, 

169, 176. 
Bowering, Prof. A. B., 169, 192, 

201, 211. 325. 
Bowman, Mrs. D. C, 223. 
Bradley, Capt. James H., hostage 

prisoner, 77, 78. 
Bradley, Mrs. Lucilla S., 323. 
Bradley, Wm. E., 127, 147, 176, 

177. 227, 261. 

] 



340 



Index 



Bradford, Daniel, 166. 
Braxton, Capt. Carter, 70 71, 12. 
Braxton, Carter, signer D. I., 247. 
Braxton, Rev. Carter, 211. 
Brent, Thomas N., 197, 261. 
Bridges— Chatham, 171; Stafford, 

171; Free, 171. 
Briggs, David, 64. 
Broaddiis, Rev. Andrew, 210, 211. 
Broaddus, Rev. Wm. F., D. D. 74. 

77, 78, 197, 211. 
Brockenburg, Dr. John, 193. 
Brool^e, Judge Francis, 125. 
Brooke, Gov. Robert, 130,- 218, 220. 
Brown, James, 172. 
Brown, John, 183, 313. 
Brown, Rev. James E., 216. 
Brown, Rev. John A., 216. 
Buckner, Cuthbert, teacher, 198. 
Buckner, Robert, 38, 39, 40. 
Bullock, B. F. Supt. gas, 178. 
Burgess, Roland, 216. 
Burrows, Silas, 157, 257. 
Butterfield, Gen. Daniel, 191, 269. 
Byrd, Col. Wm., 26, 43. 

Caldwell, J. S., mayor, 141, 220. 

Campbell, Daniel, 218, 220. 

Campbell, James M., editor, 227. 

Campbell, Mrs. Wm. A., teacher, 
198. 

Campbell, Rev. Alexander, 213. 

Carter, Col. J. W., 13th Miss., 89. 

Carter, George, publisher, 226. 

Carter, Robert, 49. 

Caruthers, Wm., teacher, 198. 

Cary, Archibald, 168 293. 

Gary, Col. Milton, 72. 

Castle, Henry, 60. 

Champ, John, 46. 

Chancellor, Mrs. B. C, D. A. R.. 
322, 323. 

Chancellor, M. S., 175. 

Chancellor, Rev. Melzi, 96. 

Chancellorsville campaign, 94; 
Gen. Hooker in command, 94; 
moved to Chancellorsville, 94; 
Gen. Sedgwick in town, 95; de- 
feated at Salem church, 96; 
Hooker beaten at Chancellors- 
ville, 95. 

Chestnutt, Rev. I. L., 214. 

Chew,, Col. Robt. S., 72, 130, 183, 
184, 192. 



Chew, John James, <68, 116, 130, 

' 138, 142. 
Chew, John, 125. 
Chew, John, Jr., 130. 
Chew, Robert S., 130. 
Chiles, Rev. James, 209. 
Churches, 202; St. George's, 203; 
Trinity, 206; Presbyterian, 207; 
French Memorial Chapel, 208; 
Baptist, 209; Methodist, 211; 
Christian, 213; St. Mary's Cath- 
olic, 214; Shiloh Old Site, 215; 
Shiloh New Site, 215; Robin- 
son's, 215; Church of God, 216. 

Citizens, arrested as hostages, 77, 
86; second arrest and names, 
102. 

City Council — Accepts situation, 
111; condemns assassination, 
112; levies taxes, 114; orders 
an election, 115; reverses order, 
115; city officers removed, 116; 
addition to oath of office, 117; 
new council 120; orders new 
courthouse, 140; passes resolu- 
tion on death of Brest. McKin- 
ley, 278, 279; standing commit- 
tees, 334; Supts. of depart- 
ments, 334; police department. 
334. 

City Hall, 143. 

City Mission, the, 324. 

City Officers, 52, 130. 333. 

Clarke, Gen. George Rodgers, 212, 
313. 

Clarke, Jonathan, 312, 313. 

Clarke, Rev. M., 205. 

Clarke, Wm., explorer. 313. 

Clay, Henry, U. S. Senator. 264. 

Cleveland, Prest. Grover, 160. 

Clowder, Jeremiah, 39. 

Coaklev. John, hostage prisoner, 
77. 79. 

Cobb, Col. John A., 153. 

Cobb, Gen. Thomas Reade Rootes, 
91. 

Cole, Col. E. D., 127, 146, 170, 174. 
212, 248, 261, 262. 

Cole, Counsellor, 168. 

Coleman, Judge Richard H., teach- 
er, 197. 

Colson, Thomas, 194. 

Confederate cemetery, 185, 186, 
189. 

Confederate Veterans, 191. 



Index 



341 



Conflagrations, 59, 64. 

Contagious diseases, 65. 

Conway, P. V. D., 93. 

Conway, Walker P., 120. 

Cooke, Dr. James, hostage pris- 
oner, 77, 79. 

Coons, Jacob, German miner, 24. 

Corbin, Hon. S. Wellford, 170. 

Corbin, James P., clerk, 223, 261, 
277. 

Cotton, Mrs. An., 282. 

Coulter, Judge John, of Chatham, 
171. 

Courthouse, 142. 

Courts — Hustings Court estab- 
lished, 124; District Court, 124; 
Circuit Court, 125; District 
Court of Appeals 125; Hustings 
Court abolished and re-estab- 
lished, 126; Police Court, 126. 

Cox, Abraham, hostage prisoner, 
77, 79, 80. 

Cox, George, 64. 

Cox, James A., 246. 

Cox, Mrs. Lucy Ann, 246. 

Craig. Rev. Lewis, 209. 

Crawford, Wm. J., architect, 159. 

Criminals, punishment of, 55. 

Crismond, H. F., 261. 

Crutchfield, Edgar M., 200. 

Crutchfield, Hon. Oscar M., 220. 

Cultatawoman, Indian king, 14, 19. 

Cunningham, James, 167. 

Cunningham. Wm. H., Ill, 201. 

Curtis, Thomas, 165. 

Custis, Daniel Parke, 237. 

Dahlgren, Capt. XJlrich, 83. 
Dandridge, Col. John, 236. 237. 
Daniel, Mrs. M. M. M., D. A. R., 

322. 
Daniel. Major John W., 160. 
Daniel, S. Greenhow, 227. 
Dannehl, Henry, 170. 
Daughters American Revolution, 

322. 
Daughters of the Confederacy, 

323. 
Davis, Miss Clarice C, teacher, 

325. 
Dawson, Hon. John. 154. 233. 
Day, Major Benjamin, 194, 195, 

220. 
Dick, Dr. Charles, 124. 
Dickey. Robert, 139, 140. 



Dill, Mrs. Kate Tichenor, D. A. R., 

322. 
Dill, Rev. Jacob S., D. D., 211, 

263, 315. 
Dixon, Rev. George L., 215. 
Dixon, Roger, Gent., 237. 
Doggett, Capt. Hugh S., 120, 184. 
Doggett, Mrs. V. S. F., D. A. R., 

322, 323. 
Dolly, Rev. W. L., 213. 
Dow, Rev. Lorenzo, 66. 
Dunaway, Rev. Thomas S., D. D., 

211, 279. 
Dunmore, Lord, 48. 

Early, Gen. Jubal A., 96, 98, 273 
Eastburn, Oliver. 170. 
Eckenrode, Mrs. H. M., D. A. R., 

323. 
Edrington, Mrs. C. W., 222. 
Eisenhower, S. A., 248. 
Electric light plant, 178. 
Elks, benevolent order of, 221. 
Embrey, Judge A. T., 126, 146, 

228, 261. 
Embrey, Major W. S., 170. 
Essex, Rev. Benjamin, 123. 
Eubank, John, 242. 
Eve, George W., 120. 

Fairs, agricultural, 44, 169, 170. 
Farish, Wm. F., 165. 
Fauntleroy, Miss L., editress, 229. 
Federal Hill, 153. 
Ferneyhough, John, 162. 
Ferry, first constructed, 170. 
Fetherstone, Richard, Gent, 14, 19. 
Fetherstone's Bay, 19. 
Ficklen, Mrs. J. B., 324. 325. 
Field, John, printer, 219. 
Fire Department, 144, 180, 181. 
Fishback, Harman, German miner, 

24. 
Fishback, John, German miner, 

24. 
Fitzhugh, St. Geo. R., 146, 147, 

261, 263, 276, 277. 
Fitzhugh, Wm., of Chatham, 171. 

236. 
Fleming, Mrs. V. M., D. A. R., 

322, 323, 324. 
Floyd, Gen. John B., 81. 
Fontaine, Col. W. W., teacher, 197. 
Fontaine, John, diary of, 26, 27. 
Ford, James W., teacher, 198. 



342 



Index 



Forrer, Rev. F. S., 214. 

Forsythe, Major Robert, 134. 

Fort, constructed on Rappahan- 
nock, 1681, 25. 

Franklin, Benjamin, 124. 

Fraser, Simon, 220. 

Freaner, W. T., 166. 

FredericliSburg American Lodge, 
218. 

Fredericksburg Artillery, 72, 73, 
74. 

Fredericksburg College, 198. 

Fredericksburg Commandery, K. 
T., 220. 

Fredericksburg, city of, founded, 
1727; streets bear royal names, 
37; act House of Burgesses, 38; 
seat of justice, 42; re-survey, 
44; wooden chimneys, 45; lim- 
its extended, 46; military ardor, 
48; under the U. S., 50; char- 
tered by Legislature, 51; rapid 
growth, 53; lends money to 
government, 54; important cen- 
ter, 58; important postal point, 
60; limits extended, 62; great 
fire, 64; trade of the town, 65: 
epitome of the city, 67; limits 
extended, 68; charter amended 
1852, 1858, 69; in the Confed- 
eracy, 71; surrendered to Gen. 
McDowell, 74; Gen. Pope enters, 
76; evacuation scenes, 81; 
bridges destroyed. 82; Gen. 
Burnside on Stafford Heights, 
83; authorities consult Gen. 
Le©, 84; Gen. Sumner demands 
surrender, 85; bombardment, 
88 (see Chancellorsville and 
Wilderness campaigns) ; war 
closes, 110; under the Stars and 
Stripes, 110; military supreme, 
113; new charter, 117; untram- 
melled citizens in power, 119; 
ante-bellum debt, 119; present 
debt, 121; courts, 124; its de- 
claration, 283; furnishes head 
of army and navy, 301; Freder- 
icksburg at present, 325; fi- 
nancial condition, 326; commer- 
cial condition. 327; official cal- 
endar, 333; council committees, 
334; registrars, 335; list of 
mayors, 336. 

Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, 217. 



Fredericksburg R. A. Chapter, 
220. 

Fredericksburg Teachers' Associa- 
tion, 325. 

Freedman's Bureau, 127. 

Fremont, Gen. John C, 313. 

French, Dr. George, 172. 

French, Seth B., 208. 

Frieze, Jacob, 242. 

Garner, A. Mason, 147, 174, 176. 

Garnett, Geo. W., 211. 

Garnett, Hon. James M., 169. 

Garrison, Hon. Geo. T., 158. 

Gas Works, 176, 177. 

Gately, Matthew J., 237. 

Gates, Gen. Horatio, 251. 

Gaullier, John F., 172. 

Gibson, Rev. John S., 207. 

Gill Beverley T., hostage prison- 
er, 77, 111. 

Gilmer, Capt. Lucien G., 185. 

Gilmer, Rev. Thomas W., 209. 

Gladstone, Sir Wm. E., premier, 
305. 

Gooch, Wm., Esq., Governor, 42. 

Goodwin, Thomas, 165. 

Goolrick, John, teacher, 196. 

Goolrick, Hon. John T., 126, 192, 
261, 271, 272, 275, 277. 

Goolrick, Miss Jennie M., teacher, 
325. 

Goolrick, Mrs. John T., D. A. R., 
160, 322, 323. 

Goolrick. Peter, 138, 139. 140, 166. 

Gordon, Douglas H., 85. 

Gordon, Gen. John B., 98. 

Gordon, Samuel, 169. 

Gordon, W. F. 184. 

Gore, Charles A., 60. 

Gore, Jacob, 60. 

Grant, Gen. U. S., 73, 99, 109. 

Gravatt, George„ 111, 120. 

Gravatt, Miss Sallie N., D. A. R., 
322, 323. 

Gray, John, 167. 

Gray, Rev. J. S., 207. 

Gray, Wm. P.. editor, 225. 

Green, Gen. Nathaniel, 251, 253. 

Green, John W., 64. 

Green, Mrs. James L., 226. 

Green, Rev. Edwin, 207. 

Green, Timothy, editor, 225, 259. 

Green, Wm. D., 166. 

Gregg, Gen. D. McM., 263. 



Index 



343 



Griffin. John M., 261, 262. 
Griffin, Lieut. Robt. S., 262. 

Hackley, Mrs. Mary, teacher, 197. 
Hagen, Rev. Henry, 24. 
Halkerson, Robert. 220. 
Hall, Dr. Elisha. 152. 
Hall, Dr. Horace B.. 111. 152, 205. 
Hall, Dr. Marshall C, 205. 
Halsey, J. J., teacher, 197. 
Hanback. . German miner, 

24. 
Hancock, John. SOS. 
Hanson, Thomas H., teacher, 196. 
Harman. Wencel, 248. 
Harris, Gen. T. M.. 114. 
Harris. O. L.. 222. 
Harrison. Benjamin. President, 

247. 
Harrison. Col. Archibald, 72. 
Harrison, Thomas. 120. 
Harrison, Wm. Henry. President, 

264. 312. 
Harrow, James D.. editor. 225. 
Hassininga. Indian king, 15, 19. 
Hawley, Gen. J. "U'., 262, 271. 
Heflin. E. G.. architect. 145. 
Henderlite, Rev. J. H., 209. 
Henry, Edward, teacher, 197. 
Henry. Patrick. 44, 264. 284, 285, 

287. 302. 
Henry, Rev. Patrick. 23, 44. 
Herndon. Capt. Wm. Lewis, 241 
Herndon, Charles. 111. 
Hemdon, Dr. B. S.. 142. 
Herndon, Dr. James C. 244. 
Herndon. Jacob. 167. 
Herndon. John M., 126. 208. 
Heslop. Isaac. 237. 
Hill. Col. John B., 257. 
Hirsh, Isaac, 261. 
Hirsh. Mrs. Isaac. 325. 
Hirsh. Mrs. Maurice. 223. 
Hitt. Peter. German miner. 24. 
Hitt. TV. Snowden. 196. 
Hodge, Rev. A. A. 209. 
Hoge. Rev. Wm. J.. D. D.. 94. 
Holliday, John, speaker. H. B., 42. 
Holmes, Thomas, 227. 
Holtzclaw. Jacob, German miner. 

24. 
Honey, Miss Maggie L., teacher, 

325. 
Hooton, Albert. 174. 
Hotels — Tammany Hall, 165; Rap- 



pahannock House, 165; Farm- 
ers,' 165; Exchange, 166; Eagle, 
166; Alhambra, 167; Indian 
Queen, 167; Travellers' Rest, 
168; Western. 168; Liberty 
House, 168; Planters', 168. 

Houston, Gen. Samuel. 168, 314. 

Howard, Clarance R., 155. 

Howard. Mrs. Clarance R., D. A. 
R., 322. 

Howard. Mrs. Wm. Key, of Ken- 
more, D. A. R.. 322. 

Howard. Wm. Key, 155. 179. 

Howison, John, 200. 

Howison, Rev. Robert R., LL. D., 
81. 

Howison. Samuel S.. 86. 

Huffman, John. German miner. 
24. 

Huffman, Landon J.. 142. 

Hunnicutt, Rev. James W., editor. 
77, 227. 

Hunter, Charles E., 176. 

Hurkamp, Charles H., 170. 

Hurkamp, John G.. 111. 

Hurkamp. Miss Jennie. 325. 

Hurkamp, Wm. H.. 192. 

Ironclad Oath. 116. 

Jackson. Rob., city trustee. 42. 
Jackson, Capt. Wm. A.. 183. 
Jackson. Gen. Andrew. President. 

257. 
Jackson. Gen. T. J., 81, 84. 95, 272. 
Jacobs. W. J.. 262. 
James. Rev. Wm.. 132. 211. 
.Japazaws. Chief, 20. 
Jay, Judge John. 240. 
Jefferson, Thomas, 167. 247. 264, 

283, 292. 294, 296. 313. 323. 
Jefferys. Major M. :\I.. 191. 
Jenkins, Wm., Gaoler. 130. 
Johns. Rev. Arthur S.. 205. 
Johnson. Major James. 128. 
Johnson. Capt. Vollev M., teacher. 

197. 
Johnston. B.. 237. 
Johnston. H. Stuart. 257. 
Johnston. Lafayette, 257. 
Johnston. Mrs. Eliza. 257. 
Jones. John Paul. 218, 237, 238, 

239. 265, 301. 323. 
Jones, W. T., 179. 
Julien. John, alderman. 124. 



344 



Index 



/ 



Kelly, Maj. J. Harrison, 170, 221, 
225. 

Kemper, Charles E., 23. 

Kemper, John, 23, 24. 

Kemper, Rev. James, 23, 24l 

Kenmore, 155. 

Ker, Dr. David C, 46, 66, 231. 

King, Gen. Horatio C, 262, 270, 
276, 277. 

King, Wm. I., 177.' 

Kirkland, Richard, 92. i 

Knight, John T., 120, 177, 248, 261. 

Knox, Capt. Jas. S., 146, 175, 177, 
184. 

Knox, Miss Virginia, 223. 

Knox, Thomas F., hostage pris- 
oner, 77, 111, 142. 

Kobler, Rev. John, 212, 213. 

Lacy, Maj. J. Horace, 170. 
Dacy, Miss Sallie 'M., 324. 
Lacy, Mrs. J. Horace, U. D. C, 

323. 
Lacy, Rev. B. T., 209. 
Ladies' Memorial Association. 185, 

186, 188, 189, 320. 
Lafayette, Gen., 256. 
Lane, H. B., chairman finance, 

176, 261, 334. 
Larkin, Capt. Thos. M., 185. 
Laiighlin, Col. W. L., 166. 
Lawrens, Henry, 308. 
Layton, C. Ernest, 222. 
Leavell. John T., 262. 
Lee, Daniel M., 192, 262. • 
Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 247. 
Lee, Gen. Charles, 251. 
Lee, Gen. Henry, 251, 308. 
Lee. Gen. Robert E., 73, 83, 99, 

108, 109, 110, 183. 191, 264. 
Lee, Gen. Wm. H. F., 83. 
Lee, Richard Henry, 247, 287, 293, 

302, 306. 
Lee, Thomas Ludwell, 168, 295. 
Legg, John, 130. 
Lewis, Col. Fielding, 155, 243. 
Lewis, John, 44, 45. 
Lewis, Meriwether, 313. 
Lewis, Robert, 255. 256. 
Lexington, battle of, 48. 
Liberty Bell, 247. 
Little, A. Alexander, 226. 
Little. Miss Bella, 226. 
Little, Mrs. .John P., 197. 
Littlepage, Gen. Lewis, 240. 



Little, Wm. A., 74, 85, 102, 111. 
Livingston, Robert R., 294. 
Livingston, Wm., 41. 
Lomax, Judge John T., 132, 193. 
Long, Michael, 167. 
Longstreet, Gen. James, 83. 
Lowery, James T., 146. 
Lowery, Wm. T., 221. 
Low, Rev. Samuel, 132. 
Lucas, Albert G., 180. 
Lucas, Walker, 168. 
Luck, Cadmus B., 166. 

Mackay, Robert, 149. 

Madison, Pres. James, 264, 301, 

302, 304. 
Magdalen, man-of-war, 48. - 
Magrath, Mrs. A. L., teacher, 197. 
Mahaskahod, Indian town, 15, 16, 

19. 
Mander, Miss Kate James, teacher, 

325. 
Mander, Miss Rebecca C, 324, 325. 
Mannahocks, Indian tribe, 17. 
Marshall, John, 249, 264, 308. 
Martin, German miner, 24. 
Martin, Mrs. H. M. D., D. A. R., 

322. 
Marye, Capt. Edward, 73. 
Marye, John L., 72. 
Marye, John L., Jr., 44, 74, 138, 

139, 209. 
Marye, Rev. James, rector, 44, 203. 
Marye, Rev. James, Jr., 203. 
Marye, William B., 198. 
Mary Washington Hospital, 222. 
Mary Washington, House, 156; 

Monument, 157, 159; will, 160; 

257. 
Mason, George, 168, 288, 302, 303. 
Mason, Judge John E., 127, 292. 
Mason, Mrs. M. J. C, D. A. R.. 

223, 323. 
Mason, Rev. J. K., rector, 205. 
Massauteck, 19. 

Massawomeks, Indian tribe, 16. 
Maury, Com. M. F., 264, 315, 316, 

318, 319. 
Maury, Gen. Dabney H., 191. 
Maury, Rev. Magruder, 205. 
Mayors, list of, 3S6. 
McBryde, Rev. Robert, 205. 
McCabe, James D., 229. 
McClellan, Gen. George B., 75. 76. 



Index 



345 



McCracken, Capt. T., 170, 176, 181, 
184, 261. 

McCracken, Patrick, 120. 

McGuire. James, hostage prison- 
er, 77, 78, 111, 208. 

McGuire, Rev. Edward C, 204, 
205, 207. 

McKinley, President Wm., 278. 

McKinley, Wm. and Cabinet, 262. 

McLane, Wilmer, 108. 

McLaws, Gen. Lafayette, 83. 

McMahon, Gen. Martin T., 263, 271. 

McPliail, Rev. George W., 196, 209. 

McPherson, Archibald, 194, 235, 
236. 

McWilliams, Wm., 124, 254. 

Meade, Rev. Wm., 204. 

Mebane, Rev. Benj. W., D. D., 
209. 

Meditation Rock. 157. 

Meiggs, R. J., P. M. G., 61. 

Melville, John C, 148. 178. 

Mercer, Capt. John, 231. 

Mercer, Col. John Fenton, 231. 

Mercer, Gen. Hugh, 50, 150, 162, 
217, 249, 301. 

Mercer, James, 46, 130, 131, 162, 
220. 

Mercer, Robert, 226. 

Merchant, Rufus B., 228. 

Metcalfe, John, 132, 141. 

Miles, Gen. Nelson A,, 262, 271. 

Military — Fredericksburg Artil- 
lery, 72; Capt. Blackford's Co., 
182; Fredericksburg Guards, 183; 
Mercer Rifles, 183; Washington 
Guards, 183; Fredericksburg 
Grays, 183; Coleman Guards. 
184; Gordon Rifles. 184; Fred- 
ericksburg Grays (new), 184; 
Washington Guards reorganized, 
185; Garfield Light Infantry 
Blues, 185. 

Ministers qualify to celebrate rites 
of matrimony, 132. 

Minor, Capt. George, 258. 

Minor, John, 68, 125, 130, 140, 142, 
172, 231. 

Moltke, Baron Von, 268. 

Monacans, Indian tribe, 16. 

Moncure, John, 134. 

Moncure, Mrs. Mary Knox, 154. 

Moncure, Thomas, 197. 

Monroe Doctrine, 310. 



Monroe, James, 60, 150, 204, 264, 

310, 314. 
Montague, A. J., 276, 277. 
Montgomery, Mrs. B. B., 325. 
Moore, Austin, 28. 
Moraughtacunds, Indian tribe, 17, 

18. 
Morgan, Gen. Daniel, 251. 
Morris, Maj. T, E., 261, 262. 
Morrison, Thos. F., 170. 
Morrison, Wm. C, 120. 
Morson, Arthur A., 134. 
,_Mortimer, Dr. Chas., 124, 253. 
Mosco, Indian guide, 13, 14, 15, IS. 
Mundell, John, 64. 
Murat, Catherine Willis, 243. 
Murat, Prince Charles, 243, 
Murdaugh, Rev. E. C, 205, 206. 
Murphy, Wm. H., 167. 
Myer, John H., 120, 223. 
Myer, Miss Annie, 325. 
Myrtle Lodge, I. O. O. F., 221. 

Nandtaughtacund, Indian King, 14. 
18, 19. 

Napoleon Bonaparte, 310. 

Napoleon, Louis, 268. 

National Cemetery, 190, 191. 

Nelson, Gen. Thomas., Jr., 247, 
293. 

Newby, James, 167. 

Newspapers and Periodicals — The 
Virginia Herald, 225; The Gen- 
ius of Liberty, 225; The Courier, 
226; The Fredericksburg News, 
226; The Political Arena, 226; 
The Christian Banner, 227; The 
Virginia Baptist, 227; The Dem- 
ocratic Recorder, 227; The Fred- 
ericksburg Ledger, 227; The 
Independent, 227; The Bulletin, 
227; The True Standard, 227; 
The Recorder, 227; The Free 
Lance, 227; The Virginia Star, 
228; The Daily Evening Star, 
228; Masonic Olive Branch and 
Literary Portfolio, 229; The 
Little Gleaner, 229; The Fred- 
ericksburg Journal, 229; The 
Evening Journal, 229. 

Normal School Building, 147. 

Norton, Wm. H., hostage prisoner, 
77, 79. 

O'Ferrall, Gov. Charles T., 159, 
276, 277. 



346 



Index 



Ould, Col. Robert, 104. 
Owens, Rev. Wm. B., 93, 94. 

Page, Mann, Jr.. 160. 

Page, Mrs. Hugh N., 322. 

Passasack, Indian King, 14, 18, 19. 

Patrick, Gen. M. R., 75. 

Paul, John, 238. 

Paul, William, 237, 238. 

Pendleton, Edmund, 49, 287, 293, 

296. 
Perrig.-Rev. J. F., 214. 
Perrin, Gen. Abner, 324. 
Peyton, Benj., 143. 
Peyton, Oapt. George H., 166, 184. 
Phelps, Elijah, 61. 
Pierson, Charles H., 170. 
Pitcher, Molly, 246. 
Pocahontas, 12, 19, 20. 264. 
Political divisions, 230, 231, 233, 

234. 
Pollock, Capt. John G., 73. 
Poor Debtors' prison bounds, 134, 

135. 
Poor, care of, 171, 174. 
Pope, Gen. John. 75, 76, 77, 81. 
Porter, Gen. Horace, 239. 
Porter, John S., 183. 
Port Royal, 19. 
Posey, Gen. Thomas, 217, 301. 
Postal investigation, 60. 
Postoffice burnt, 89. 
Powell, D. Lee, 183. 
Powell, Rev. W. R., 227. 
Powell, Smith's companion, 13. 
Powers, Hiram, 218. 
Powhatan, Indian King. 19, 20. 
Pritchard, John, 68. 142, 180, 183. 
Procter, Thomas, 168. 
Proctor. Thomas F., 192. 
Pryor, Mrs. Roger A., 151. 
Public Buildings, 137; Courthouse, 

142; City Hall, 144; Fire House, 

144; Union House, 144; Colored 

School, 144; Wallace Library, 

145. 
Public Free School Board, 335. 
Public Schools, 199. 
Pullen, Jesse, 167. 

Quinn, Capt. S. J., 147, 174 175, 
176. 192. 211, 220. 261. 277, 323. 
Quisenberry, Wm. P.. 167. 

Ramsay, Rev. F. P., 199, 223. 



Ramsay, T. H., 166. 

Randolph, Gov. Edmund, 124, 304. 

Randolph, John. 149. 

Randolph, Peyton, 49. 

Randolph, Rev. A. M., 93, 205. 

Ransom, Gen. Robert, 83. 

Ransom, Rev. W. L., 216. 

Rapahanock, Indian King, 18. 

Ratliff, Lieut. Wm., 89. 

Rawls, Miss Mary, 195. 

Ray, Rev. Albert, 216. 

Read, James G., 197. 

Reaney, Rev. W. L., 207. 

Reconstruction commenced, 113. 

Religious liberty, 309. 

Revere, John H., 184. 

Rhinehart, H. W., 197. 

Richards, Mrs. F. C, D.^ A. R., 322, 
323. 

Richardson, Hon. James D., 302. 

Richardson, Judge D. C, 276. 

Richardson, Lieut. Wm. H., 324. 

Rising Sun Tavern, 148. 

Roach, Miss Agnes P., 325. 

Roberts, John H., hostage pris- 
oner, 77, 79. 

Robinson, John H., 181. 

Robinson, John. 39. 

Robinson, Rev. Willis M., 215. 21'' 

Roddy, Samuel, 124. 

Rolfe, Capt. John. 19, 20. 

nootes, Philip, 46. 

Rootes, Thomas Reade, 153, 231. 

Rosebro, Rev. J. W., D. D., 146, 
199, 209. 

Ross, Alexander, 46. 

Rothrock, Charles M., 246. 

Rowe, A. P., 160, 170, 247, 248, 260. 

Rowe, A. P., Jr.. 146, 262. 

Rowe, Capt. M. B., 170, 174, 184, 
185, 261. 

Rowe, Geo. H. C, hostage pris- 
oner, 77. 78. 103, 105. 

Rowe, Josiah P., 176. 

Rowe, Rev. George, 215. 

Royston, John, 38, 39, 40 41. 

Ruggles, Gen. Daniel, 200. 

Ruggles, Gen. Geo. D., 271, 276. 

Rush, Dr. Benj.. 152. 

Russell, saves Smith's life, 13. 

Sanford, Joseph, 68. 142. 168. 
Saunders, Rev. A. P., D. D., 198. 

209. 
Schofield, Gen. John M., 115. 



Index 



347 



School Buildings — Union House, 
144; Colored School, 144; new 
School Building. 145. 

Schooler, Miss Willie F., 194, 197. 

Schools, Fredericksburg Academy, 
193; Federal Hill Female Col- 
lege, 194; Charity School, 194; 
Rev. Samuel Wilson's, 195; John 
Goolrick's, 196; T. H. Hanson's, 
196; Rev. Geo. W. McPhail's, 
196; Powell and Morrison's, 
197; Richard Sterling's, 197; 
Mrs. John P. Little's, 197; 
Misses Ann and Mary Drinnan's. 
197; Rev. Dr." Wm. F. Broad- 
dus's, 197; Judge Richard H. 
Coleman's, 197; Wm. Caruth- 
ers's, 198; Public Schools, 199; 
Fredericksburg College, 198, 
Fredericksburg Female Semi- 
nary, 198. 

Scott, Capt. Benj., 185. 

Scott, Charles S., Ill, 171. 

Scott, Dr. Wm. S., 86. 

Scott, Francis S., 134. 

Scott, Gen. Winfield, 265, 314. 

Scott, Hugh S., 68, 142. 

Scott, John F., hostage prisoner, 
77, 79. 

Secobeck, 19. 

Seddon, Thomas, 133. 

Semple, Rev. Robert B., 210, 211. 

Semple, Robert B., 138, 139, 140, 
226. 

Sener, Capt. J. W., Ill, 120, 175, 
183, 184, 201. 

Sener, Hon. J. B., 128, 157, 160, 
227, 248, 260. 

Sentry Box, 150. 

Sewell, Gen. W. J.. 262, 271. 

Shackleford, Rev. J. Green, 207. 

Shakahonea, Indian town, 15. 

Shelburne, Rev. Cephas. 214. 

Shepherd, George W., 59, 149, 192, 
261. 

Sherman, Roger, 294. 

Sickles. Gen. Daniel E., 269, 271. 

Slaughter, F., 142. 

Slaughter, M., hostage prisoner, 
74, 77, 78, 84, 86, 87, 104, 111, 
112. 126. 

Slaughter, Rev. Philip, D. D., 193. 

Slaughter, Wm., 68, 139. 140. 

Sligo, small-pox hospital, 66. 

Smith, Augustin, 39. 



Smith, Austin, 30. 

Smith, Capt. John, 11, 12, 13, 18, 
19, 20, 37. 264, 332. 

Smith, Charles K., 248. 

Smith, Frank W., 170. 

Smith, Gen. Gustavus W., 83. 

Smith, George Washington, 223. 

Smith, Maj. Lawrence, 21, 37. 

Smith, Miss Rebecca, 222. 

Smith, Mrs. Jas. P., 158. 

Smith, Rev. Jas. P., D. D., 209. 

Smith, Rev. S. C, 211. 

Smith, Rev. Wm. D., 205, 224, 324. 

Smith, Robert, 183. 

Smith, William, 22. 

Smock, James, 171, 172. 

Society of the Army of the Poto- 
mac, 259, 261, 271, 276. 

Sockbeck, 19. 

Somerville, James, 124. 

Somerville, Prof. S. W., 145, 199. 

Sons of Confederate Veterans, 192. 

Spencer, Mrs. Lettie M., 322. 

Spotswood, Governor, 22, 23, 24, 
27, 32, 33, 42. 

Stansbury, John L., 84. 

Stearns, Frank P., 145. 

Stearns, Mrs. Walter C. 223. 

Stegara, Indian town, 15, 16, 19. 

Sterling, Richard. 197. 

Stern, Richard, 197. 

Stevenson, A. E., 159, 160. 

Stevenson, Carter L., 132. 

Stoffregen, R. Lee, 175. 

Stone, Samuel, 167. 

Strasburger, Miss Bertha, 222. 

Stuart, Gen. J. B. B., 86. 

Sumner, Gen. E. V., 85. 

Tackett, Charles E., teacher, 197, 

198. 
Tackett, Charles E., 166. 
Taliaferro, John, 39, 42. 
Tapahanock, Indian King, 19. 
Tauxuntania, Indian town, 15, 16, 

19. 
Taylor, Col. W. W., 176. 
Taylor, Mayor Richard M., 276, 

277. 
Taylor, Pres. Zachary, 264, 312, 

314. 
Taylor, William, 172. 
Teasdale, Rev. John, 211. 
Telephone Co., 179. 



348 



Index 



Temple, Benj., hostage prisoner, 

77, 79. 
Temple, Charles W., 198. 
Templeman, Wm., 237. 
Thanksgiving Proclamation, 306. 
Thatcher, Elisha, 171. 
Thorn, Reuben T., 89, 205. 208. 
Thornton, Ira, 42. 
Thornton, Pressley, 46. 
Timberlake. James, 167. 
Tobacco Inspectors, oath of office, 

47. 
Todkill, Smith's companion, 13. 
Transportation Lines — R. P. and 

P. R. R., 328; P. F. and P. R. R., 

328; Md., Del. and Va. R. IT.. 

329. 
Tremain, Gen. Henry E., 262, 271. 
Tucker, Saint George, 31T4. 
Turner, James A., 192, 261. 
Tuttle. H. B., 166. 
Tyler, Gov. Hoge. 277. 
Tyler, Prest. John, 264, 312, 314. 

Ultz, John, 166. 
Upham, Dr. J. H.. 244. 
U. S. Government building, 147. 
Utterback, Harman, German min- 
er, 24. 

Virginia, military district No. 1. 

113. 
Vorhees, Hon. Daniel W.. 313. 

Waddy, Rev. John M., 211. 

Waite, George, 221. 

Walden, Rev. L. G., 215. 

Walker, Dr. Thomas 281. 

Walker, George A., 184. 

Walker, Joseph, 162. 

Wallace, Judge A. Wellington, 126, 

302, 309. 
Wallace, Capt. C. Wistar, 145, 149, 

184. 
Wallace, Dr. J. Gordon, 74, 120. 
Wallace. Gen. Gustavus B., 149, 

218, 301. 
Wallace. H. H., 261. 
Wallace, J. Stansbury, 248. 
Wallace Library, 145, 146. 
Wallace, Maj. Thomas P., 146." 
Wallace, Mrs. Charles, 324. 
Waller, John, 39, 42. 
Waller, John, Jr., 237. 



Waller, Miss Mary Page, 325. 
Waller, Rev. John, 209. 
Waller, William, 44. 

Wardwell, , 76. 

Ware, William, 218. 
Warren, William, 139, 140. 
Warwick, Hon. Charles P., 248, 2"^ 
Washington, Augustine, 42. 
Washington, Bushrod, 130. 
Washington, Col. Wm.. 251. 
Washington, George, 42, 46, 48, 49. 

143, 217, 218, 253, 254, 255, 264, 

299, 302, 304. 
Washington, Martha, 236, 237. 
Water Power, 329. 
Water Works, 174, 175. 
Wayman, , German miner, 

24. 
Weaver, Tillman, German miner, 

24. 
Weedon, Gen. George, 49, 50, 149, 

150, 217, 301. 
Weir, Mrs. Florence P., 322. 
Wellford, Beverley R., 139, 140, 

142. 
Wellford, Beverley, R., Jr., 79, 

220. 
Wellford; C. C, hostage prisoner, 

64, 77. 142. 143. 
Wellford, Dr. Francis P., 243. 
Wellford, W. N., 169. 
Wheeler, Gen. D. D., 151. 
Wheeler, Gen. Joseph, 262, 271. 
White, Jesse, 225, 229, 246. 
White, Mrs. W. Seymour, 222. 
White, Wm. H., 138, 139. 140. 
White, W. Seymour, 222. 228, 248. 
Whittemore, .L M., 141, 180. 
Wight, Mrs. H. Theodore, 153. 
Wilderness Campaign, 99, 101, 105. 
Williams, Major Charles 76. 128. 
Williams, Rev. R. Aubrey, 211. 
Williams, Rev. Wm. H., 211. 
Willis, Catherine, 243. 
Willis, Col. Byrd C. 243. 
Willis, Benj. P.. 146, 200, 211. 
Willis, Henry, 39, 44, 45. 
Willis, M. G., 177. 
Willis. Rev. John C, 227. 
Willis, Wm., 245. 
Wilson, Rev. Samuel B., 132, 207. 
Winchester, Stephen. 172. 
Wodrow. Alexander, 220. 
Woltz, Col. John W.. 227. 



Index 349 

Woodford. Gen. Wm., 217, 301. Yates, A. Bacon, 160. 

Wood, Silas, 64, 143. Yates, Charles, 237. 

Wrenn, Lewis, hostage prisoner, Young, James, 166, 167. 

77, 79. Young, John James, 105, 111, 120, 
Wroten, George W., 147, 261. 201. 

Wythe, George, 168, 247. 302. Young, Mary, 238. 



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